The United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Kenya’s governing party, has applauded the National Resistance Movement (NRM) for its ideological training initiatives.
During a visit to the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi on February 5, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar expressed that the visit was a privilege for them.
“Visiting the birthplace of the NRM party is an enlightening experience, and this will broaden our perspectives,” Omar remarked.
After learning about the expertise and competencies acquired at Kyankwanzi, Omar stated that Kenya intends to establish a similar institution to nurture its young leaders.
“We plan to create a comparable institute in Kenya to strengthen the ideological training of our UDA members, ensuring we develop leaders with firm ideological foundations,” he emphasized.
Omar further shared that he vied for a position at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) because he believed that through the regional parliament, they could lay the groundwork for eliminating the borders that have divided the region.
Maj. Pollar Awich, the NRM’s Director of External Affairs, acknowledged that the NRM was fortunate to collaborate with Kenya’s ruling party. He revealed that during an EALA session held in Uganda last year, UDA’s leadership, led by Omar, engaged with the NRM to explore ways of strengthening their partnership for the mutual benefit of both nations.
“As the NRM, we warmly received our Kenyan counterparts when they approached us seeking collaboration. They are here to gain insights from us, just as we aim to learn from them,” he stated.
“As a party, we believe that one can only truly understand the NRM by examining the principles that define it,” Awich added, highlighting that the NRM’s longevity in power for four decades is a result of its strong support base.
He further explained that their Kenyan counterparts were eager to understand how the NRM has managed to maintain its resilience for 40 years.
“Kyankwanzi is an institution we hold in high regard—it serves as a historical archive for the NRM government. If you observe closely, you will find that numerous leaders in our country have been influenced by Kyankwanzi,” Awich stated.
The Director of NALI, Col. Okei Rukogota, welcomed the UDA delegation and noted that Kyankwanzi continues the legacy of the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA).
Rukogota explained that after their predecessors realized that leadership skills could not simply be acquired from conventional universities or schools, they took the initiative to establish a leadership training center.
“Ideology consists of a framework of ideas that shape decision-making. If you embrace misguided ideologies, you risk experiencing stagnation and setbacks,” Rukogota said, stressing that Kyankwanzi is dedicated to molding individuals into capable leaders.
