Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has accused the Registrar of Political Parties of overstepping the regulator’s mandate and frustrating Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s efforts to secure a political vehicle ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Malala, speaking at the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) headquarters on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, alleged that the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) had become entangled in political affairs following a dispute over the use of the name Ukombozi by rival opposition formations.
“Registrar of Political Parties amekuwa mwanasiasa. The registrar of political parties must be put on notice that he is not a political party. He is a regulator of political parties,” Malala said.
He claimed that Sifuna had repeatedly encountered hurdles whenever he attempted to establish or register a political party.
“Muona vile yeye anafanya maneno, anasumbua Sifuna. Mumwona jana, he is trying to bring confusion every time Sifuna tries to register a political party anazungushwa,” he said.
Malala’s remarks came days after the ORPP rejected an application by the United Democratic Party (UDP) to change its name to Ukombozi People’s Party (UPP), a move linked to Sifuna and his allies.
In a letter dated September 8, 2026, the Registrar said the proposed name resembled The Ukombozi Alliance, which had been reserved by another applicant on July 20, 2026.
The dispute intensified after Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka announced on Monday, September 21, that the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition had unanimously agreed to rebrand as The Ukombozi Alliance as opposition parties reorganise ahead of the 2027 elections.
Malala alleged that the reservation of the Ukombozi name had complicated Sifuna’s efforts to establish a political platform.
“Sasa hivi, mumwona amechukua jina ya Edwin Sifuna, amepatia Azimio. His intention is to kubunganisha the parties within the opposition. Sasa Sifuna amekwama, wanasema hana chama,” he said.
Despite his criticism of the Registrar, Malala urged Sifuna to abandon the name dispute and consider using another political party.
“But we want to urge, because he’s a young leader like us, we want to urge Edwin Sifuna: take any party, give it any name. You must not have Ukombozi,” he said.
Malala said Sifuna’s political standing should ultimately be assessed through his conduct and leadership rather than the name of the party he chooses.
“We shall view you from the lens of good leadership, leadership that is not compromised,” he said.
He also called on leaders within Azimio and the broader opposition to avoid actions that could deepen divisions as they seek to establish a common political platform ahead of the 2027 polls.
“So tunataka kuambia mandugu zetu wa Azimio kwamba we should not be a recipe of division within the united opposition. Tukae chini, tuelewane, tuadhishe kwamba sisi sote tuwe wamoja,” Malala said.
The Ukombozi dispute has since become a broader contest over the political identity and organisational vehicles of opposition formations ahead of the 2027 General Election, with competing claims emerging over the history and reservation of the name.
