President William Ruto's Senior Economic Adviser, Moses Kuria, has revealed that his political party, Chama Cha Kazi, will field candidates in the upcoming by-elections, hinting at the intent to revamp the party ahead of the 2027 polls.

Kuria announced on Sunday, May 11, that the party, which was supposedly dissolved in 2022, would be in the running once the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) sets a date.

"As we prepare to swear in the new IEBC, this party, which was founded on 17th August 2021, is the party to watch. By-elections are looming. Battle Royale," Kuria stated.

This comes three years after the Chama Cha Kazi party wrote to the Registrar of political parties seeking to merge with the ruling United Democratic Alliance(UDA) in October 2022.

Party Officials of Chama Cha Kazi Receiving Certification on Thursday, August 19

ORPP

"Chama Cha Kazi would like to issue notice to all the members pursuant to and in accordance with Article 10.0.1 (b) of the Chama Cha Kazi Constitution of the decision to merge Chama Cha Kazi with the United Democratic Alliance. Members are invited to file their submissions supporting or opposing the merger with the Secretary General within 21 days hereof," read the notice.

Kuria made this submission immediately after his nomination as the Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary in 2022, barely a year after its formation.

Speaking on October 2, 2022, he confirmed the letter to the RPP Anne Nderitu seeking the dissolution of his party into the UDA party 

"Until yesterday, I was the leader of the Chama Cha Kazi. But on Friday, September 30, I wrote to the ORPP to break the party so that I can join UDA," Kuria disclosed.

The decision came around the time when President Ruto was pushing to have all leaders of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance affiliate fold up their parties into one, akin to the previous ruling party, Jubilee.

Although the CCK had requested to be dissolved, no further confirmation was made that the party had officially joined UDA.

However, Kuria has been hinting at political discord in the Kenya Kwanza administration over the past few months, often seeming to side with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the arch-nemesis of the UDA party.

On May 8, President Ruto nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon as the chairperson of the IEBC and six others as members to constitute the vacant commission.

Once vetted and sworn in, the commissioners are expected to hold by-elections before 2027 to fill vacancies left by late elected leaders, including the latest Kasipul MP, Charles Were. 

Other vacant positions that need to be filled are leadership positions for Banisa Constituency, Magarini Constituency, and Ugunja Constituency in Mandera, Kilifi, and Siaya counties, respectively.

Senior State House Advisor Moses Kuria during the Government Delivery Services event in Lower Kabete, Nairobi.

Photo

Moses Kuria