giant dream

Kenya: Can Ruto transform the UDA party?

By Jeff Otieno

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Posted on April 12, 2023 15:30

Kenyan presidential candidate William Ruto kicks off his campaign, in Nairobi — File photo of William Ruto campaigning in Nairobi before he became president, January 2022. (REUTERS/Baz Ratner)

President William Ruto’s dream of transforming the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) into a mega political party by merging the smaller parties within the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance is facing major resistance from key allies.

During a visit to Kisii last month, Ruto warned his fierce opponent, Raila Odinga, to prepare for ‘a mother of all battles’ in the 2027 general election.

“My competitor Raila Odinga should remain calm. If he wants to [compete] against me, he should start preparing early. Let me warn him that in the next general election in 2027, I will ‘whitewash’ him. He will not even have poll agents,” he said.

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