23/03/2026
PRESS STATEMENT.
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
DATE : Monday March 23, 2026
FROM: The Office of the Secretary General, FORD Kenya Party
SUBJECT : Defending Multiparty Democracy and Responding to Coercive Dissolution Demands
PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY: FORD KENYA WILL NOT BE COERCED TO FOLD.
The FORD Kenya Party has noted with deep concern the consistent and sustained threats issued by senior leaders within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), most recently articulated by Hon. Samson Cherargei. These utterances, demanding that affiliate parties within the Kenya Kwanza administration should fold up and join UDA ahead of the 2027 General Elections, are not only outrageous but a direct affront to the democratic fabric of our nation.
1. A call for folding is a Betrayal of Partnership
It is disheartening to witness a narrative that suggests that UDA has already secured the 2027 polls without the need for its partners. This posture is a blatant dismissal of the reality of the 2022 victory. FORD Kenya, alongside other affiliate parties, played a vital and decisive role in securing the current administration’s mandate. To demand the dissolution of Ford Kenya now is to "bite the finger that once fed you." It implies that affiliate parties were merely a ladder to power, to be discarded once the summit was reached.
2. Constitutional Integrity and the Act of 1992
The Political Parties Act of 1992 established the legal framework for a multiparty democracy that is now firmly anchored in our current Constitution.
The calls for a single-party monolith are a regressive attempt to return Kenyans to the "dark days" of political stifling. Multipartyism allows every Kenyan to participate in the governance of their country through diverse ideologies. If anyone wishes to dismantle this constitutional pillar, they must follow the law through a referendum, rather than through coarsion or political intimidation.
3. The Failure of Forced Mergers
We must ask: what is the true objective of this mission to vanquish affiliate parties? If the goal was "unity," the results speak for themselves. Since the dissolution of parties like ANC to join UDA, we have witnessed a leadership vacuum where members now claim to be "politically homeless." This has led to a mass exodus of members—some joining FORD Kenya to find refuge, while others have retreated to the opposition parties. Forced mergers do not create unity; they create resentment and instability.
4. FORD Kenya is part of the National Heritage and History
The current leadership of FORD Kenya are merely trustees of an entity that belongs to the people of Kenya. We have no mandate, morally or legally, to fold up a party that represents the history of our liberation.
"FORD Kenya cannot and will not be dissolved. It can only be enhanced and protected for future generations."
5. A Vision for 2032 and Beyond
We must look beyond the current electoral cycle. What will happens in 2032 when President Ruto’s term will come to an end? If we establish a precedent where parties are swallowed at the whim of the ruling elite, we jeopardize the stability of our nation. In developed democracies worldwide, parties remain as institutions while leaders come and go. That is the standard we must uphold.
6. A Shift from Politics to Service Delivery
The question Kenyans are asking is: Why are some top UDA leaders on a mission to vanquish the very parties that secured their victory? What is the hidden agenda? What is the motivation?
Instead of engaging in premature and divisive political realignments, we urge our coalition partners to remain focused on the promises we made to the electorate. Our energy should be spent fulfilling the pledges we made to the people of Kenya.
7. Threats to leaders in the alliance
In his rwcent remarks Hon. Cherargei stated that leaders of political parties that will not have folded by 2027, will not be considered for appointment in the next government. Is this a threat aimed at forcing leaders to fold their Parties. Are they targeting specific individuals who hold senior positions within government? Why are such reckless statements being made so casually?
Even if this proposal was to be formally presented, let me be clear: that our position remains unchanged. FORD Kenya, the ‘Simba Party’, will not fold.
8. Glaring contradictions
I am also concerned by the glaring contradictions we are witnessing. On one hand, some leaders are calling for the dissolution of affiliate parties, while on the other, they are openly pursuing alliances with other parties like ODM. This kind of double speak raises serious questions about sincerity, consistency, and the true agenda behind these calls.
9. Our Final Stand.
We categorically reject the threats made by Hon. Cherargei and others who suggest that positions in government are contingent upon folding our party.
Governance should be based on merit and the pre-election agreements that formed this coalition—not on political blackmail.
FORD Kenya remains a steadfast partner in the Kenya Kwanza administration, but we will not sacrifice our identity, our history, or our constitutional rights. Ford Kenya will not fold. As a Party we will respect the coalition agreement and we will support the President to deliver on his Mandate.
Signed,
Hon. Dr. John Chikati MBS MP
Secretary General, FORD Kenya Party
