The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has initiated discussions with Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), as part of its strategy to strengthen party structures and prepare for the 2027 general election. The two parties held a high-level meeting on Wednesday at Hustler Plaza in Nairobi, signaling growing political collaboration between Kenya and Tanzania.
The talks, led by CCM Secretary General Emmanuel Nchimbi and UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan, focused on deepening party-to-party relations and exploring avenues for mutual learning. According to a joint statement, the engagement aims to bolster ties between the two parties “for the benefit of the people of the two friendly and neighbouring countries.”
CCM, currently chaired by President Samia Suluhu, has been in power since 1977 and is known for its robust grassroots-driven political organisation. Formed through the merger of Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), CCM has developed long-standing mobilisation strategies that have contributed to its political longevity. It is the second-longest-ruling party in Africa after Liberia’s True Whig Party.
UDA, which rose to power in 2022, is keen to emulate CCM’s enduring political infrastructure. “These are the models that UDA aims to emulate going forward,” Omar said, emphasizing the party’s interest in learning from CCM’s grassroots engagement, internal governance, and community mobilisation strategies.
The meeting also involved Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Bernard Yohana Kibesse, and senior UDA officials, including lawyer Adrian Kamotho. This engagement aligns with UDA’s broader strategy of benchmarking with established political movements globally. In 2023, UDA also hosted a delegation from the Communist Party of China (CCP), another long-ruling party known for its organisational discipline.
As UDA prepares for its grassroots elections—a critical part of its roadmap to 2027—the party is seeking to build internal resilience and voter outreach capacity. The first phase of the elections took place in April 2024 across several counties, marking the beginning of a larger political reorganisation effort.
This latest development highlights UDA’s strategic intent to draw lessons from seasoned political organisations as it solidifies its presence on Kenya’s political landscape.
