The Ukombozi Alliance: What Replaced Azimio, and Who Chairs It

The coalition formerly known as Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition renamed itself The Ukombozi Alliance on 21 September 2026. Kalonzo Musyoka, leader of the Wiper Patriotic Front, announced the change and said the coalition chair was Uhuru Kenyatta, the retired President. Two days later The Star reported, citing sources, that Uhuru was expected to hand the chair to James Orengo (Governor, Siaya).

The announcement

Kalonzo spoke at a press conference on 21 September. The Star quoted him: "After today, even this podium will change because the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition has this day, September 21, 2026, unanimously agreed to rebrand and change the name to Ukombozi Alliance."

Orengo gave the coalition's working slogan as "one term, one team and one coalition", Citizen Digital reported. Citizen listed Orengo, Enoch Wambua (Senator, Kitui) and the former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza among those present.

"Ukombozi" is Swahili for liberation.

Who chairs it

The reports disagree.

On 21 September Citizen Digital quoted Kalonzo saying: "The coalition chair is Uhuru Kenyatta, and tomorrow, he is convening a Jubilee Party meeting." Citizen's headline said the alliance would be chaired by Uhuru.

The Star, two days later, had a different account. Uhuru, "who had been the coalition's chairman, is expected to hand over the mantle to Siaya Governor James Orengo, according to sources."

The courts explain some of the confusion. On 14 September the High Court upheld the rule that a retired president may not hold party office more than six months after leaving office, and Uhuru handed the Jubilee Party to Fred Matiang'i on 22 September. On 21 September a second High Court judge declared the same rule unconstitutional. Neither judgment was reported to deal directly with whether the rule reaches the chair of a coalition party.

As of 23 September 2026 no filing with the Registrar of Political Parties naming the chair had been reported.

What the coalition was before

It was formed on 12 March 2022 and registered as a coalition political party. It ran Raila Odinga for president in 2022, with Martha Karua as running mate, and lost to William Ruto.

Raila Odinga died on 15 October 2025, and the coalition changed shape after that. According to Wikipedia's summary of its records, Uhuru announced on 3 February 2026 that Kalonzo would take over as party leader. Junet Mohamed (Suna East) was replaced as secretary-general by Caroli Omondi (Suba South). The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which had moved closer to Ruto's government, issued a 90-day notice of withdrawal.

The body that took the new name on 21 September had therefore already lost the party that used to be its largest member.

Who objected

The Star reported on 23 September that the National Liberal Party, a constituent member, had formally objected to the change, citing lack of consultation and breach of the coalition agreement.

Allan Akivaga, who says he is Secretary-General of a Ukombozi People's Party whose name was reserved in March 2025, asked the Registrar to revoke the alliance's name, Citizen Digital reported on 22 September.

Edwin Sifuna's allies were hit indirectly. The alliance's name had been reserved on 20 July 2026, and the Registrar used that reservation to refuse UDP's change of name to Ukombozi People's Party, the vehicle Sifuna's camp had planned to use. We explain that decision in why the Registrar blocked the name.

What a coalition name decides

No coalition name appears on the ballot on 10 August 2027. Candidates stand on their own parties' tickets, or on a coalition party's ticket if the coalition is registered as one. The distinction is set out in coalition or coalition party.

The name settles who owns the brand the opposition campaigns under, and who files the coalition agreement with the Registrar. The Registrar's timelines, issued on 6 September, put coalition agreements in April and May 2027. Our explainer on how coalition agreements work covers what those documents must contain.

What to watch

• A formal notice of the new name and the chair from the Registrar.
• Whether the National Liberal Party takes its objection to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.
• Whether Uhuru hands the chair to Orengo, as The Star's sources said he would, and whether Orengo accepts while pursuing his own presidential bid.
• Whether Gachagua's DCP, Matiang'i's Jubilee and Sifuna's allies join the alliance or stay outside it. For the Jubilee side, see Uhuru's handover to Matiang'i.