NRM, Kenya ruling party officials meet in Nairobi

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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) top party leadership is in Nairobi in a bid to bolster their collaboration with Kenya’s ruling party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

In a media statement on Thursday, President William Ruto, led UDA, confirmed the four-day official visit to Kenya by the NRM top officials led by the party secretary general, Richard Todwong.

UDA Party Secretary General Hassan Omar and his NRM counterpart, Richard Todwong, held talks at the party headquarters, Hustler Plaza.

NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong being welcomed by UDA officials on arrival. (Credit: NRM secretariat)

The two secretary generals discussed issues of mutual interest between the two political outfits, including training of a batch of 100 members of the UDA Party to be undertaken at Uganda's National Leadership Institute - Kyankwanzi in Jinja.

Todwong and his team were received by senior UDA officials, including Japheth Nyakundi, MP for Kitutu Chache North and the party's national treasurer; Rob Jillo, director of media and communication, Nathaniel Mong'are, director of resource mobilisation, political and diaspora affairs; Grace Murugi Gicovi, director of events and logistics, and Daniel Kiptoo, director of programmes and partnerships.

Todwong is, among others, accompanied by the party director of external affairs, Rt. Awich Pollar and Okei Rukogota from the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi.

“I am honoured to have been invited to the Republic of Kenya by the UDA-Kenya. Over the coming days, we shall engage in high-level discussions focused on advancing mutual interests and fostering stronger collaboration between our two countries and political parties,” Todwong posted on his X account after landing in Nairobi.

UDA disclosed that the visit by the NRM delegation followed an invitation from the party’s secretary general, Hassan Omar.

The NRM visit comes shortly after the party's internal structure elections and Barazas at the village level.

In February this year, the UDA officials, led by the party secretary general, visited their NRM counterparts in Kampala and, among others, met the party chairman, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for discussions.

At the time 19-member team engaged with the NRM on a range of areas of mutual interest between the two parties and their respective countries.

The UDA team also toured NALI as the UDA plans to establish a similar institute in Kenya.

“The two political parties share similar missions of transforming the lives of the population and championing East Africa’s political federation,” Awich Pollar said.

The UDA first visited Kampala in October 2024 and has continuously expressed admiration for the NRM party for its longevity in power.

“We admire that you have a good foundation to pick a leaf from, and I will be looking forward to a structured partnership to learn from you (NRM). Kenya’s history of political parties is that they evolve from one election to another,” Joash Maangi, an official with UDA, said on an initial visit to Kampala.