Kenya's High Court has nullified the dissolution of the Amani National Congress (ANC), linked to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, restoring its full legal status. The ruling strikes a legal blow to its merger with President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA), declaring the decision-making national delegates meeting unconstitutional for excluding members.
The High Court quashed a government gazette notice issued last year and ordered the Registrar of Political Parties to immediately restore ANC's full legal status. The party was dissolved in January 2025 and merged with UDA, officially struck off on March 7, 2025, after the National Delegates Conference (NDC) approved the decision.
Following the merger, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, former ANC leader, was appointed UDA deputy leader, while Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, ex-ANC secretary general, became UDA deputy secretary general. The process was challenged in court by activist Stephen Mutoro, who sued Mudavadi, the Registrar, and others.
The case concerned members' political rights and ANC's future, founded to champion reform politics. Judge Bahati Mwamuye ruled the February 7, 2025, NDC unconstitutional for lacking member involvement. All decisions, including dissolution and asset transfers, were declared illegal and void.
The court nullified Gazette Notice No. 3449 of March 7, 2025. “ANC remains a legally registered political party whose legal life has never been lawfully terminated,” said Judge Mwamuye. He ordered deletion of dissolution records and return of any assets transferred to UDA.
The dispute arose from internal ANC divisions after Mudavadi joined Ruto's camp. Critics claimed the process sidelined grassroots members. The ruling complicates political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections and underscores the need for internal democracy.
