Barely five months after former powerful Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i reportedly hired the services of a Montreal-based Canadian lobbying firm to help him strategise for his 2027 presidential campaigns, a political party associated with him is busy rebranding to accord itself a national outlook.
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA), which has a motorbike, red, green and white colours as its identity, is now racing against time to shed off the ‘one tribe party’ tag that it has lately been associated with.
Speaking after a National Governing Council (NGC) meeting held in Nyamira recently, the party leader Amos Nyaribo explained that the NGC had resolved to surrender some party positions to individuals from other parts of the country as part of its expansion strategy.
“We have met as the NGC to discuss our expansion plans. We are preparing to shake the entire country. We will be surrendering some party positions to individuals from other regions to make us more powerful,” said Mr Nyaribo.
The expansion of the party will also involve an aggressive opening of at least 26 new party offices across the country by mid-2025, explained Mr Nyaribo, who is the serving governor of Nyamira County.
In April 2023, a National Delegates Conference (NDC) of the UPA was held in Nairobi where the founding leaders of the party were replaced with individuals largely drawn from the Abagusii community.
The current leaders are Mr Nyaribo (party leader), Bonchari MP Charles Onchoke (deputy party leader), Rigoma Ward MCA Nyambega Gisesa (national chairman), Damaris Nyanchoka (national deputy chairman), Kisii County Assembly Deputy Speaker Jacob Bagaka (secretary general), Joel Ombongi (deputy secretary general) and Derick Mosiany (national treasurer).
Others are Ibrahim Isaak (deputy treasurer), Alice Kiongo (organising secretary), William Serem (deputy organsing secretary), Julias Anyoka (legal affairs), Edna Obara (women affairs), Mildred Okero (youth affairs) and Hellen Misati (disability secretary).
Elijah Abere is in charge of parliamentary affairs, Amiss Nzao (international affairs), John Asakhulu (public policy) and Florence Achieng (intelligence).
The founding leaders who were hounded out of office after a protracted battle at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) and the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal were Eliki Tom (national chairman), Martin Mutua (deputy chairman), Josiah Omolo (deputy secretary general) and James Gichana (treasurer).
Others were Enock Ombuna (organising secretary), Nixon Lugadiru (disability secretary), Brian Inzai, Diana Makomere, Grace Mwashigadi (youth affairs), Sarah Mbogai, Nancy Omweri, Meshack Mwambi, Aggrey Kwamesa, Enock Onsembe, Thomas Orina, Kafadzi Charo and Vivian Cherono.
Mr Nyaribo said that the NGC held in Nyamira was also attended by delegates from Kwale, Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Kisumu, Wajir and Narok who are either members of the NGC or National Executive Council (NEC).
Mr Bagaka, the party’s SG remarked that Dr Matiang’i is a long standing member of the outfit and the only person capable of offering an alternative leadership that Kenyans are currently yearning for.
“As a party we do not want to talk much about 2027. But the truth is that we are a party to watch. UPA has a candidate. The founder of this party is called Fred Okeng’o Matiang’i, a man of high repute. When he finally comes, (the ruling) United Democratic Alliance UDA will go home,” said Mr Bagaka.
Dr Matiang’i was recently spotted interacting with market traders in Kitui County. This marked his first public appearance after several months out of the limelight.
