Kenya’s independence party, KANU, has officially agreed to work with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance under a broad-based government framework aimed at fostering unity and accelerating national development.
The announcement was made during a grassroots leaders’ meeting in Kabarak, Nakuru County, where President Ruto and KANU chairman Gideon Moi jointly addressed delegates and sealed the deal.
Ruto: Time to Unite for Kenya’s Transformation
President Ruto said he reached out to Moi out of his determination to unite Kenyans across political divides and rally the country towards a shared transformation agenda.
“I want to ask you, the good people of the founding party, to accept that we work together,” Ruto said. “Let us have a formal arrangement so that KANU becomes part of the government of Kenya.”
The President emphasized that the partnership was not about political expediency but about delivering results for ordinary Kenyans.
“This is not about individuals, personalities, or regions. This is about Kenya,” he added.
Gideon Moi: Focus on Development, Not Politics
KANU chairman Gideon Moi welcomed the collaboration, saying it aligns with his party’s goal of improving livelihoods and reviving stalled projects, including critical road and infrastructure works.
“My interest is not in political office, but in ensuring that the people benefit from development,” Moi noted.
The Kabarak meeting followed earlier talks held at State House, Nairobi, where President Ruto, Moi, and senior KANU officials laid the groundwork for the alliance.
Ruto Cites Lessons from Asian Tigers
President Ruto lamented that Kenya’s development had lagged behind since independence, unlike nations such as South Korea and Singapore, which have since transformed into first-world economies.
“We need to ask ourselves what we got wrong and what they got right,” Ruto said. “It’s time for Kenya to move beyond third-world status and become a prosperous nation.”
He also outlined the steps his administration has taken over the past three years to stabilize the economy, including reviving stalled infrastructure and investment programs.
“The economy is now stable. We are focusing on implementing programmes that had stalled,” Ruto said.
The new political partnership between KANU and Kenya Kwanza is expected to reshape Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, bringing together leaders from across the political spectrum.
