Activist Boniface Mwangi is renowned for his fights against human rights abuses and bad governance; however, his latest battle over the leadership of the Ukweli Party, which he founded almost a decade ago, could define his political future come 2027.
After a high-stakes National Delegates Conference (NDC) held on June 12, where fresh officials were elected, a rival faction within the party has emerged, accusing him of failing the test of fairness.
In a presser on Friday, Oyoo Sungu, a member of the party who, like Mwangi, has been harbouring presidential ambitions, dismissed the NDC as illegal, fraudulent and designed to hand control of the party to a select group of individuals.
Sungu accused Mwangi's faction of orchestrating what he termed a “sham NDC” and undermining the party’s founding values of truth, transparency and justice.
“The events of the past few weeks have seen the party fall short of fulfilling its motto. Instead of truth, transparency and rights, party membership has been fed half-truths, opaque processes and injustice,” Sungu said.
He claimed the disputed conference was convened without the approval of key party organs and violated the party constitution.
In response, Mwangi dismissed the contestations as unwarranted, insisting the polls were conducted in a free and fair manner.
He noted that ahead of the NDC, he was not a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) and therefore the allegations against him are unjustified.
Mwangi added that those targeting him are being used by the State to scuttle the party and block compliance with the Political Parties Act.
In his view, the targeting and timing of the attacks are highly suspicious, especially since they come from people who were involved in the compliance process until they decided to step out.
According to Sungu, however, the NEC is the only organ mandated to call an NDC, yet some members were allegedly sidelined from the process.
Oyoo Sungu, who is disputing Boniface Mwangi’s leadership. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)
He further alleged that a newspaper advertisement announcing the conference used the name of Deputy Secretary General Ndũko O’Matigere without his knowledge, forcing him to resign after discovering his signature had been used.
“The so-called National Delegates Conference (NDC) was convened without the knowledge of some members of the National Executive Council (NEC), even though it is the organ that calls for an NDC,” he said.
Sungu also accused organisers of interfering with the National Elections Board (NEB) to influence the outcome of internal elections, specifically targeting candidates contesting the party chairmanship.
He claimed NEB was reconstituted weeks before the elections and alleged the changes were intended to disadvantage certain candidates.
“What form of government does the Ukweli Party wish to institute for Kenyans? One that conducts illegal elections? One that reconstitutes the IEBC one week before elections?” Oyoo posed.
In a rejoinder, the party's Deputy Secretary General Daudi Anami Imbako said the attacks on Mwangi were disingenuous and unwarranted, clarifying that the founding Chair of the Party has never resigned as a member.
“History has many episodes where a reactionary State used individuals who purport to be progressive (agent provocateurs) to scuttle progressive ideas, parties, and taint progressive people. The NDC of 12th June 2026 was organised and held as per the Party Constitution and in line with the Political Parties Act. Indeed, those attacking the Party NDC were actually participants at the NDC,” he said.
Anami further recounted that those disputing Mwangi’s leadership contested in those elections and lost.
“For instance, in the election for Party Chairperson, Boniface Mwangi garnered 103 votes, while Sungu Oyoo garnered 12 votes. Ukweli Party and the ideas of the Party are bigger than the ambitions of any single member. Those who lost the elections should simply join hands with all Party members, and ensure that the Party complies with the Political Parties Act, and help to build a strong, formidable Party towards 2027 and beyond.”
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