In a statement released on Thursday, March 23, the Farmers Party decried missing out on government appointments despite being affiliate members of the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
The party led by former Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Irungu Nyakera, also faulted United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General, Cleophas Malala, for claiming they had folded their party to join UDA.
They claimed that Kenya Kwanza favoured some parties for government appointments while locking out others from lucrative positions.
“Simultaneously, the National Executive Committee (NEC) considered and approved maintaining the Farmers Party’s affiliation with the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.
“Even though noting that most of Kenya Kwanza’s affiliated parties have been left out of the UDA government appointments, against what they signed under the Kenya Kwanza coalition agreement of April 12, 2022,” read the statement in part.
In the statement signed by the Farmers Party Secretary General, Simon Kamangu, the party reiterated that they are affiliated with UDA but have not folded or plan to join UDA.
Farmers Party called out misleading media reports that claimed that they had folded. They reiterated their ideals as the only political party grounded on championing farmers' rights.
The statement encouraged the government to maintain the achievements made in the tea, sugar, dairy, and coffee sectors.
In February 2023, some Kenya Kwanza affiliates folded to join the UDA Party. They included Umoja na Maendeleo Party, Chama cha Mashinani and Economic Freedom Party.
Apart from parties, prominent members of rival parties also joined UDA.
Former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero, who was in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and Nick Salat, a former secretary general of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), were among the notable leaders who crossed over.
Malala joined the UDA party in February 2023, as secretary general, promising to increase the party’s membership.
"Our objective is to build a perpetual political party with a semblance of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa and the Democratic Party in America.
"I shall be having a consultative agenda with our partners to merge with the UDA party and form one big party," Malala stated.
