A political party linked to prominent leaders from the abagusii community has been unveiled ahead of the 2022 general elections as politicians from different communities rush against time to form parties, The united progressive alliance has a motorbike as its symbol with colors red, white, and green being the party,s theme.
The launch comes barely two weeks ago after a section of leaders from the Gusii region announced plans to form a party to champion interest of the community. According to the party interim deputy leader Herbert Mwachiro the united progressive alliance [UPA] is a rebrand of Party of Economic development, Mwachiro led other interim officials unveiling the party at its Kazi House Headquarters in kileleshwa,Nairobi on Friday.
The officials of the united progressive alliance party include Tom Musamali [national chairman] Martin Mutua [vice chairman] John Obwocha [acting general secretary] Josiah Omollo [deputy secretary general and James Nyang’au [treasurer] and the party will have offices across 27 counties including Nyamira, Kisii, Kisumu, Mombasa among others.
On Friday, Mwachiro neither confirmed nor denied reports that the party belongs to interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiangi.
“This is a Kenyan party. It,s an open party if the CS feels he wants to join us we welcome him. But at the moment we know he is a civil sevant,’’ He said
Late last month, MPs from Kisii and Nyamira counties disclosed their plans to unveil a regional party to champion the community,s interests. They included Simba Arati [Dagoretti North] ,Vincent Kemosi [West Mogirango] Innocent Obiri [Bobasi] Richard Onyonka [Kitutu chache south] Joash Nyamoko [West mogirango] Samuel Arama [Nakuru town west] Ezekiel Machogu [nyaribari masaba] and Alfa Miruka [Bomachoge chache],However None of the MPs attended the event of unveiling the party.
On Friday, Mwachiro also added that the outfit is anchored on the ideology of participatory economic progress with cooperation and social cohesion as its cornerstone as he also outlined that the party will be willing to form an alliance with other like minded outfits, Adding that the party supports the handshake between president Uhuru Kenyatta And ODM boss Raila Odinga
‘` We must say that through the Handshake, we have achieved phenomenal peace that has allowed us to navigate through troubles of the covid-19 pandemic but also live as one community that is kenya’’ He said
