A senior delegation from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party is in China for a high-level benchmarking mission aimed at laying the groundwork for the official launch of the UDA Leadership School, a key pillar in the party’s long-term institutional development agenda.
The delegation, led by UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar and Executive Director Nicodemus Bore, is engaging leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and senior administrators of party training institutions as UDA seeks to adopt world-class frameworks in leadership development, political discipline and grassroots organisation.
"By studying the CPC century-long expertise in cadre training and disciplined grassroots mobilisation, UDA is transitioning from a mere election vehicle into a permanent, ideological institution," the party said in a statement.
As the UDA Leadership School nears its launch, party leaders say it is critical to learn from political institutions that have demonstrated longevity, discipline and ideological clarity.
The CPC, which has more than a century of experience in cadre training and structured mobilisation, is seen as a valuable reference point as UDA transitions from a campaign-focused outfit into a permanent political institution.
According to party officials, the visit underscores UDA’s intention to move beyond election cycles and build an enduring organisation anchored on values, ideology and disciplined leadership.
"We are not only focused on winning elections; we are building a world-class UDA Leadership School to train leaders of today and tomorrow,” the party said.
A key highlight of the visit is benchmarking with the Zhejiang Provincial Party School, one of China’s most respected institutions for training political leaders and public administrators.
The school is renowned for its emphasis on political discipline, governance ethics, public service delivery and strategic leadership, areas UDA believes are essential for strengthening Kenya’s democratic institutions.
The benchmarking exercise is expected to inform the structure, curriculum and governance model of the UDA Party School, which will offer training to elected leaders, party officials, aspiring candidates and grassroots organisers.
The school will focus on ideological orientation, governance, public policy, leadership ethics and effective political organisation.
UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar during a meeting with officials from Zhejiang Provincial Party School on January 30,2026/UDAThe China mission follows a similar engagement in March 2024, when UDA officials held talks with CPC representatives to explore party-to-party cooperation, leadership exchange programmes and technical support for institutional development.
Those discussions laid the foundation for deeper collaboration, culminating in the current visit.
During the March 2024 meeting, the CPC expressed willingness to share experiences on building strong party structures, training cadres at different levels, and sustaining party cohesion over long periods.
UDA leaders say these lessons are particularly relevant as Kenyan political parties often struggle with institutional weakness and fragmentation after elections.
Party insiders say the UDA Leadership School is part of a broader strategy to professionalise politics, nurture disciplined leadership and reduce personality-driven politics.
By investing in structured training, the party hopes to produce leaders who are ideologically grounded, policy-oriented and responsive to citizens’ needs.
The delegation is also holding discussions on grassroots mobilisation strategies, internal party democracy and mechanisms for maintaining discipline and accountability among party members.
These elements, UDA officials say, are crucial in building public trust and ensuring consistent governance outcomes.
Beyond political training, the visit is expected to strengthen party-to-party relations between UDA and the CPC, complementing the broader diplomatic and economic ties between Kenya and China.
During a past interview, Bore said they are seeking up to Sh1 billion financial support from CPC to put up its offices to serve as its headquarters.
The party is banking on the solid relations Kenya has with China to secure the funding.
UDA currently operates on Ngong Road after relocating from Hustler Centre in Kilimani.
The design of the new offices is such that it will incorporate the school of leadership.
Upon their return, the officials are expected to present a comprehensive report to the UDA leadership detailing key lessons, recommendations and practical models that will shape the final rollout of the UDA Party School.
With the launch of the school, UDA aims to position itself as a disciplined, ideologically coherent and institutionally strong political party, capable of nurturing leadership beyond electoral success and contributing to Kenya’s long-term governance and democratic development.
Others in the delegation are Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, Cecilia Ngetit (County MP, Turkana), Edward Kisiangani (Senior Advisor to the President), Mark Lumunokol (NEC Member), Adrian Kamotho (ENDRC), Omulo Junior (Director, County Affairs), Daniel Kiptoo (Director, Programmes and Partnerships) and Sabastian Mwangangi (Special Advisor, Secretary General).
On Saturday, the team engaged in an intensive academic session exploring the "Double Eight Strategy"—the ideological engine behind Zhejiang’s economic miracle at CPC offices.
The lecture, delivered by the distinguished Professor Lu Ning of the Zhejiang CPC Party School, served as an intellectual deep-dive into fostering societal prosperity. The discourse focused on a multi-dimensional approach to development.
The Double Eight Strategy mirrors the core tenets of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
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