By Anderson Ojwang
Could the former Youth for KANU ’92 and founder of the United Democratic Party (UDP), the late Cyrus Jirongo’s party, be the vehicle to end the decades-long search and actualisation of the elusive unity of the Luhya community in his death?
This is the question which is gaining currency and relevance in the current national and Luhya community political dispensation, with many watching to see if the late Jirongo’s last wish before his death, Luhya unity, can finally be realised.
The takeover of UDP by Sifuna, who is currently a presidential candidate, could be a possible positive nod to achieving Luhya unity, and his presidential bid has united the community into a fold.
But separately, the party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, could be back to his old hawkish trait, which for the last three decades has determined his political character.
The return of his hawkish tendency has been witnessed in the current battle with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna over the name Ukombozi.
Kalonzo moved and reserved the name Ukombozi and recently rebranded the Azimio La Umoja coalition and unveiled the new alliance, Ukombozi Alliance, while Sifuna was struggling to change the UDP name to Ukombozi, which was rejected by the Registrar of Political Parties.
The hawk tendency
Sifuna, a mentee and the last Secretary-General of Raila Amolo Odinga in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), finds himself in a similar situation his boss found himself in 20 years ago.
Raila in 2005 was the lead player in the Orange campaign against the Wako draft constitution and successfully led the anti-constitution campaign. The draft was rejected at the referendum and then President, the late Mwai Kibaki, the proponent of the draft, was humiliated and humbled.
Raila found himself cornered over the battle for the control of ODM-K, which they had registered together through political proxies.
Kalonzo ran away with ODM-K, contested for president, came a poor third but denied Raila ODM victory at the controversial 2007 presidential election.
Kalonzo quickly jumped ship and joined Mwai Kibaki and left Raila and his team protesting the outcome. The protest culminated in the post-election violence and the formation of a coalition government.
Kalonzo landed the Vice-President slot and later teamed up with Raila in 2013 and 2017 as the running mate, in which they lost to Jubilee presidential candidates Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto.
Kalonzo has rebranded ODM-K to Wiper Democratic Movement (DWM) and recently rebranded the party again to Wiper Democratic Front (WDP).
“We have rebranded Wiper party front because of the spirit of our young people, which was taken away, some were arrested and others put to cells,” he said.
The battle
Wiper Patriotic Front spokesperson Ndegwa Njiru challenged Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s allies to prove that they had reserved the name with the Registrar of Political Parties.
Taking to his official X account on the night of Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Njiru dismissed claims that Sifuna’s camp had secured the name, insisting that no reservation had been made by the senator.
“Mr. Sifuna has never reserved the name UKOMBOZI with the Registrar of Political Parties. I challenge anyone with evidence to the contrary to produce it,” Njiru said.
Coincidence
Kalonzo’s announcement on September 21, 2026, that the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition had rebranded as The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA), coincided with efforts by Sifuna’s allies to establish an Ukombozi-branded political vehicle.
Kalonzo said the coalition had unanimously agreed to adopt the new name as part of a broader restructuring of its political activities.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) subsequently rejected a proposed change of name by the United Democratic Party (UDP) to Ukombozi People’s Party (UPP), saying the proposed name resembled The Ukombozi Alliance, which had been reserved by another applicant on July 20, 2026.
The Vehicle
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, in a recent interview with a local Luhya vernacular radio station, said that Nairobi Senator Sifuna will be the United Democratic Party (UDP) presidential flagbearer.
The party, formally founded by former Lugari Member of Parliament, the late Cyrus Jirongo, is linked to Natembeya.
The Trans Nzoia County boss made the revelation during a radio interview on Mulembe FM.
“Sifuna atawania urais kupitia chama cha UDP,” said Natembeya.
The official unveiling of Sifuna as both the party leader and presidential aspirant is scheduled for the first week of October and will be done by the party’s National Executive Committee at the party headquarters in Nairobi.
“Kila region katika United Opposition iko na chama chake, kwa Mulima ni DCP, Ukambani ni Wiper…pia sisi hapa Western lazima tuwe na regional party,” he added.
Rivalry
The Sifuna-Kalonzo rivalry is in the offing and could be a replay of the 2007 Raila-Kalonzo tiff. The rivalry could be what President William Ruto could be waiting to cash in on.
Will Kalonzo, who is currently third in the opinion poll ranking after Ruto and Sifuna, employ his infamous 2007 game plan to pitia Katikati to be the main single opposition presidential candidate?
Will Kalonzo agree to deputise Sifuna or will Sifuna agree to be Kalonzo’s deputy? Interesting times for the opposition. Have the briefcase opposition parties lined up to grab the droppings and once again land on the Palace table?
