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A rift has emerged within the Amani National Congress (ANC), with several members of the party accusing its leader, Musalia Mudavadi, of betraying them after the controversial merger between ANC and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

The party members voiced their dissatisfaction on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, claiming that Mudavadi made the decision without proper consultation or consideration for the views of the grassroots.

Speaking to the press, the disgruntled ANC members accused the party leadership of allowing the merger to happen without seeking their input, a move they feel has jeopardized the future of the party.

“We note that the top leadership of the party has allowed itself and the party to be swallowed up by our competitors. At first, we thought we were united in a public mission, but this was not the case,” one of the members said.

The merging of ANC into UDA has sparked frustration among some members who feel that the decision was made solely for the personal benefit of Mudavadi, rather than in the interest of the Luhya community or the party’s long-term goals.

They accuse Mudavadi of shifting parties to further his own political ambitions, making it clear that they no longer believe he represents their interests.

“Musalia, you have betrayed us, and you are one of the leaders we believed would one day become president. Your only work has been to shift parties and use us for your own benefit,” a party member remarked, expressing disillusionment with their leader’s actions.

The ANC-UDA merger was finalized on January 17, 2025, with UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire announcing that the union aimed to create a more inclusive and democratic party.

Mbarire also revealed that the merger had seen ANC’s identity symbols incorporated into the UDA’s new logo, and several leaders from ANC, including Issa Timamy and Omboko Milemba, were appointed to key positions within the UDA.