Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka's camp is celebrating after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) lifted orders that had frozen the registration of The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA), the new name chosen for the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a statement released on Thursday by his presidential secretariat, Kalonzo said the tribunal "has discharged its earlier orders suspending the registration process" of the alliance, meaning no tribunal order now stands in the way of the rebrand.

What the tribunal decided

The dispute, filed as case PPDT/E007/2026, was brought by Allan Jayuga Akivaga against the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and the Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya. It centred on the reservation of the Ukombozi Alliance name on July 20, 2026.

On October 13, tribunal chairperson Innocent Muganda certified the matter as urgent and barred the Registrar from approving, registering or gazetting the proposed name until the challenge was heard.

With those orders now discharged, the ruling as quoted by Kalonzo's team says the Registrar "is accordingly at liberty to proceed with and conclude the registration" under the Political Parties Act. Kalonzo described the outcome as a "fresh lease of life" for the united opposition.

Reports on the ruling did not make clear whether the wider fight over who owns the Ukombozi name has been finally settled, or whether the petitioner intends to pursue the matter further.

A crowded fight over one name

The rebrand has been contested from several directions. In a September 8 letter, the Registrar indicated that the proposed name had not yet been approved and noted that another applicant had already reserved the Ukombozi Alliance name.

The Ukombozi Peoples Party has also claimed prior rights to the name, while allies of Senator Edwin Sifuna, whose Linda Mwananchi movement had earlier operated under The Equitable Party, have argued that they floated a Ukombozi rebrand of the United Democratic Party as far back as March 2025.

Why it matters for 2027

Azimio's member parties agreed on September 21 to adopt the new identity as part of efforts to rebuild the coalition after former President Uhuru Kenyatta handed its leadership to Kalonzo. Martha Karua serves as deputy coalition leader and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi as secretary-general.

The registration offers Kalonzo a formal coalition vehicle at a time when the opposition is still divided over who should face President William Ruto. Rigathi Gachagua's DCP, Fred Matiang'i's Jubilee, Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi and other outfits are all jostling for influence, and talks on a single flagbearer remain unresolved.

Kalonzo has said the alliance will remain open to other parties as the election draws closer. The Registrar is yet to publicly say when the process will be completed.

Photos: Kalonzo Musyoka/X via The Eastleigh Voice; Kenyans.co.ke. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.