Kalonzo, Sifuna Camps Clash Over Political Use of ‘Ukombozi’

Wiper Patriotic Front spokesperson, lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, has defended Kalonzo Musyoka against claims that the name Ukombozi Alliance was inspired by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s political plans.

Njiru said Musyoka had used the language of liberation well before Sifuna’s reported plans for a political vehicle under the Ukombozi name. He pointed to Kalonzo's use of the slogan “Komboa Kenya” in April 2025, when Sifuna was still serving as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement. According to Njiru, the coalition’s new name developed naturally from the slogan. 

“The word Komboa has given birth to Ukombozi,” he said, arguing that Musyoka’s use of the term predates Sifuna’s reported plans.

DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa also defended the coalition’s position, saying the opposition had submitted its rebranding proposal before the name became associated with Sifuna. Kalonzo formally announced the transformation of the Azimio La Umoja Coalition into the Ukombozi Alliance (TUA) several days ago, presenting it as a renewed political coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The announcement coincided with Sifuna’s efforts to establish a political vehicle under the same name. His camp recently suffered a setback after the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties rejected a proposal to rename the United Democratic Party as the Ukombozi People’s Party, citing a conflict with the already reserved Ukombozi Alliance name.

In a letter dated 8 September, the Registrar confirmed that the Ukombozi Alliance had been reserved by another applicant in July 2026. The decision effectively blocked Sifuna’s proposed name.

However, people close to the Senator maintain that his team began the process much earlier, in March 2025, and argue that the Registrar’s decision does not reflect the full chronology of the events. The dispute centres on the political use of the term “Ukombozi”, which means liberation and has historical and ideological significance in Kenya. 

Kalonzo's camp says the rebranding is intended to bring different opposition parties together under one banner, while Sifuna’s efforts point to a separate attempt to establish a political identity using the same term.