Fresh twist in Sifuna-Kalonzo Ukombozi fight as Njiru demands proof of name reservation

The political dispute surrounding the "Ukombozi" identity has intensified as Wiper Patriotic Front spokesperson Ndegwa Njiru demanded concrete proof from Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's team regarding the reservation of the name with the Registrar of Political Parties. Njiru's assertion, made on his official X account, effectively disputed claims made by Sifuna's camp.

This development arose amidst a growing rift between the Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka's faction and the Linda Mwananchi group, led by Sifuna, regarding the political identity ahead of the 2027 General Election. The conflict initially erupted when Kalonzo Musyoka announced on September 21, 2026, that the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition had rebranded as The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA).

However, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) subsequently denied a proposed change of name by the United Democratic Party (UDP) to Ukombozi People's Party (UPP), citing resemblance to The Ukombozi Alliance, which had already been reserved by another applicant on July 20, 2026. Njiru's latest comment further complicates matters by questioning whether Sifuna himself ever obtained a reservation for the name.

The emergence of conflicting accounts regarding the history of the Ukombozi name adds to the complexity of the dispute. ORPP documents from March 13, 2025, indicate that the name Ukombozi People's Party was approved for reservation by Allan Jayuga Akivaga for 90 days, with the ORPP later associating UPP with a party registration process dating back to 2025.

Nonetheless, a September 8, 2026, ORPP response to the UDP's rebranding request clarified that the office had not authorized the UDP to use the name Ukombozi People's Party, highlighting its similarity to The Ukombozi Alliance. Wiper officials have also attempted to discredit the narrative that the Ukombozi identity originated with Sifuna, pointing to Kalonzo Musyoka's use of the term "Komboa Kenya" as far back as April 2025.

This argument supports Wiper's defense of Kalonzo's adoption of The Ukombozi Alliance name. The dispute over the name Ukombozi has become a central issue in the broader contest over party structures, branding, and the future alignment of opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 General Election.