The ongoing discussion surrounding the “Ukombozi” name has taken an intriguing turn. Wiper Patriotic Front spokesperson Ndegwa Njiru asserted that Kalonzo Musyoka utilized the term months before it became associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
Njiru’s comments followed a wave of speculation online after Kalonzo announced the rebranding of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition to The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA). A local daily even reported on a supposed conflict between Sifuna and Kalonzo regarding the party name.
This situation arises at a critical moment for Sifuna’s team, which has been exploring the Ukombozi People’s Party (UPP) as a potential political vehicle for the Linda Mwananchi movement in anticipation of the 2027 General Election.
However, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) rejected the proposal to change the United Democratic Party’s name to Ukombozi People’s Party, citing its similarity to The Ukombozi Alliance, already reserved by another applicant.
The timing of these developments has sparked speculation about whether the Ukombozi name could create further divisions within the opposition.
Njiru has sought to refute claims that Kalonzo derived the name from Sifuna’s political initiative. “His Excellency Kalonzo has been using the phrase ‘Komboa Kenya’. Records indicate that as early as April 29, 2025, while Sifuna was still ODM Secretary-General and the broad-based government MoU was being signed, Musyoka had already embraced and promoted the term,” Njiru stated on X on September 22, 2026. He further remarked, “The term Ukomboa has evolved into Ukombozi.”
These statements aim to clarify the timeline of terminology usage and counter assertions that Kalonzo’s adoption of the Ukombozi Alliance stemmed from Sifuna’s efforts to establish a party with the same name.
Kalonzo announced the formation of the Ukombozi Alliance on September 21, stating that the coalition’s leadership had reached this decision unanimously. “From today, even this podium will change, as the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition has unanimously agreed to rebrand to Ukombozi Alliance,” Kalonzo declared. He characterized this move as the beginning of a new chapter for the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Additionally, Kalonzo mentioned that former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who chairs the Azimio Council, would convene a Jubilee Party meeting to discuss further decisions regarding the coalition’s leadership and structure.
The rebranded alliance has embraced the philosophy of “One Term, One Team, One Coalition,” as opposition parties continue to strategize for the upcoming General Election.
The Ukombozi controversy heightened due to a separate political initiative linked to Sifuna and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya. The two have been associated with efforts to create a political platform for the Linda Mwananchi movement, which included the United Democratic Party’s attempt to change its name to Ukombozi People’s Party.
However, on September 8, the ORPP communicated that it had not authorized the proposed name change. The Registrar referenced Section 8(c) of the Political Parties Act, which allows the office to reject a proposed party name if it closely resembles that of another registered entity, potentially causing confusion.
The Registrar specifically noted that the proposed Ukombozi People’s Party name was too similar to The Ukombozi Alliance, which had already been reserved by another applicant on July 20, 2026. This decision complicated Sifuna’s plans to utilize the Ukombozi identity as a political vehicle.
Kalonzo sought to downplay the potential for conflict with Sifuna over the name. In response to inquiries following the unveiling of the Ukombozi Alliance, he emphasized the importance of unity within the opposition. “I assure you and fellow Kenyans that our position remains clear; we are one term, one team, one coalition. We will do everything necessary to stay united,” Kalonzo asserted.
He clarified that the decision to rebrand was partly driven by time constraints amid an ongoing dispute between Linda Mwananchi and the Registrar of Political Parties. “We recognize that Linda Mwananchi is awaiting a decision from the Registrar. We understand that time is critical, and our goal is simply to expedite the process,” he explained.
Kalonzo concluded that the similarity in names should not create divisions within the opposition. “As long as we remain one team in the end, there is no issue with that,” he stated.
