The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal has stopped the Azimio La Umoja Coalition from proceeding with plans to adopt the name The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA) pending the determination of a legal dispute over the proposed name.
In interim orders issued on Tuesday, October 13, the tribunal directed the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) not to approve, register, gazette or take any further administrative steps towards formalising the name change.
The case stems from a dispute involving the Wiper Patriotic Front and a petitioner who claims to have already reserved the name Ukombozi People’s Party (UPP).
The petitioner argues that the reservation prevents the ORPP from approving the use of the name Ukombozi by the Azimio coalition.
The tribunal certified the matter as urgent and scheduled October 29 for a mention to establish whether the respondents had complied with the directives and to give further directions. The ORPP and Wiper were also ordered to file their responses within seven days ahead of further proceedings.
The decision comes days after Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka announced that Azimio would rebrand as The Ukombozi Alliance as part of efforts to accommodate additional political parties into the coalition.
However, the proposed name has also featured in a separate political dispute involving the Linda Mwananchi Movement and its leader, Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna. Sifuna has been linked to plans to use the Ukombozi People’s Party as the vehicle for a possible presidential bid.
The ORPP previously rejected a proposal to rename the United Democratic Party (UDP) to Ukombozi People’s Party, citing similarities with The Ukombozi Alliance.
In a letter dated September 8, the Registrar stated that the proposed name had not been approved, noting that another applicant had reserved The Ukombozi Alliance on July 20, 2026.
However, sources close to Sifuna disputed that account, maintaining that plans to rename UDP to Ukombozi had been initiated in March 2025, before Azimio’s rebranding proposal.
The latest ruling adds another legal hurdle to the opposition’s political realignments as its leaders maintain that they intend to field a joint presidential candidate against President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
