UDA, China’s Communist Party Forge Collaboration In Leadership, Governance

• The Communist Party of China is the largest political outfit in Beijing and has been in power since 1949
• The outfit has over 90 million members and has played a critical role in transforming China's economy
• UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala said the ruling party intends to borrow a leaf from CPC's ideologies

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has sought a partnership with the Communist Party of China (CPC) to strengthen its structures and build capacity for a more cohesive, responsive, democratic and people-centred outfit.

The CPC is the founding and ruling political party of modern China and has over 90 million members.

What has the Communist Party achieved?

The party, founded by Mao Zedong in early 1920, took over the leadership of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and has maintained political power and monopoly since then.

The CPC, currently under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, has played a crucial role in the massive economic growth and transformation of China, a legacy UDA intends to achieve for Kenya.

During a meeting held at Deputy Rigathi Gachagua’s office in Karen, on Thursday, August 17, the William Ruto-led party sought CPC’s support in strengthening its structures to build a formidable outfit for posterity.

What did Gachagua, Malala say?

Gachagua, together with UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala held talks with the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China Zhou Pingjian to explore areas of cooperation.

“The UDA party has a lot to learn from the Communist Party of China (CPC), as we continue building UDA to a party of the century beyond elections. This will enhance political stability and predictability in addition to nurturing our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda ideology,’ said Gachagua.

Malala said the ruling party will borrow a leaf from CPC leadership and management of affairs with a view of building a solid outfit that will outlive its founders.

"The meeting signifies the strategic collaboration aimed at fortifying UDA's foundation for the future. Borrowing largely from the Communist Party of China (CPC) Communist Party of China (CPC), UDA aspires to evolve into a party capable of enduring political tides and times espoused on the embodiment of the transformative Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,' said thee party SG.

The president's outfit is currently the largest single party in the National Assembly, with 138 MPs from across the country. The party is an affiliate of the Kenya Kwanza coalition that has the vast majority of 179 against the Opposition's 157.

What is UDA's plan?

The president has hinted at a plan to collapse all the other small parties in Kenya Kwanza to form a single formidable party by 2027.

The proposal faced immediate resistance and criticism from a section of parties that felt UDA was planning to suppress their influence and kill democracy within the coalition.

FORD Kenya of Moses Wetangula and ANC of Musalia Mudavadi are some of the parties that rejected the proposal.

Malala who was pushing the president's agenda was forced to abandon it and focus on building UDA in preparation for the 2027 polls.