President William Ruto's push to merge Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties into a single dominant outfit, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), faces significant reluctance from party leaders who are discreetly maintaining their parties as strategic assets for the 2027 General Election.

• The Amani National Congress (ANC), legally still operational after a High Court ruling nullified its dissolution into UDA, exemplifies this contradiction.
• Key figures like Senate Speaker Amason Kingi (PAA) and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) are publicly pledging loyalty to UDA but retaining their party structures.
• This "double game" stems from mistrust, succession anxieties, and a desire for survival, with leaders preferring to "comply publicly but preserve privately" to retain bargaining power amidst shifting alliances and potential challenges within the coalition.