In a statement issued on Thursday, May 14, party leader Alfred Mutua said the decision was reached during a meeting of the party’s National Governing Council, which reviewed the ongoing political realignments within the ruling coalition.
The announcement comes at a time when several affiliate parties within Kenya Kwanza are considering dissolving and joining UDA in an effort to strengthen the coalition ahead of the next general election.
However, Maendeleo Chap Chap has maintained that preserving its identity remains important despite supporting the coalition government.
Mutua stated that the party’s leadership unanimously agreed that Maendeleo Chap Chap would continue operating as a fully independent political party while remaining a loyal member of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
“While the party is aware that some political parties within the Kenya Kwanza Coalition have chosen to dissolve and merge into the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Maendeleo Chap Chap has made a deliberate and democratic decision to remain a fully independent political party within the Coalition,” Mutua stated.
The former Machakos governor said the party’s position is anchored on the constitutional right to political association as provided under Article 38 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
According to the party, maintaining its independence allows it to continue representing the interests and aspirations of its supporters across the country while still collaborating with coalition partners on national development goals.
Mutua further noted that political diversity within the coalition should not be viewed as division, but rather as a reflection of democratic maturity and inclusivity.
He argued that different parties can coexist within one coalition while maintaining their unique identities and ideologies.
The declaration is expected to shape political discussions within Kenya Kwanza as coalition parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
In recent months, conversations around consolidation within the ruling alliance have intensified, with some leaders pushing for a stronger unified party under UDA.