The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party has dismissed High Court ruling that declared the merger with Amani National Congress (ANC) unconstitutional, stating that no such merger ever took place.
In a press statement released by Lamu Governor and UDA’s second deputy party leader Issa Timamy, the court ruling was based on incorrect assumptions. Timamy clarified that ANC ceased to exist following the voluntary dissolution by its members.
“I would like to state categorically that the court ruling on the purported ANC–UDA merger is a matter that events have overtaken,” Timamy said.
Timamy further cited a Gazette notice issued on 14th March 2025, by the then Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu, which notified the public, the resolution by ANC Party members, to dissolve the public outfit.
“For the record, on 14th March 2025, vide Gazette Notice No. 3449, the then Registrar of Political Parties notified the public that the ANC, at its Special National Delegates Congress held on 7th February 2025, dissolved in line with its party constitution,” Timamy said.
According to Timamy, the court’s move to nullify a nonexistent decision is fictional and untenable. He maintained that there was never a merger between the two political parties.
“Clearly, what was done was a voluntary dissolution by the ANC party through its members, and therefore, the matter of the ANC having ‘merged’ with UDA is, with respect, not factual,” Timamy said.
Timamy also stated that following its dissolution, ANC assets were transferred to UDA, and members integrated into the ruling party.
“After the dissolution, all ANC assets were transferred to the UDA, and the dissolved ANC’s members were integrated into the UDA following due process,” Timamy said, adding that the party considers there to be no legal or operational ambiguity arising from the process.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday January 22, 2026 by Justice Bahati Mwamuye, the dissolution of ANC and its merger with UDA did no meet the constitutional threshold for dissolving and merging political parties.
Justice Mwamuye also declared null and void, the gazette notice issued by the Registrar of Political Parties ratifying the merger, and ordered the Registrar to update the register indicating that ANC still exists.
