Cracks Widen in UDA as Members Ignore Malala’s Orders

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 – United Democratic Alliance UDA Party Members of County Assembly have vowed to defy Secretary General Cleophas Malala’s orders.

At least 26 MCAs at the Nairobi County Assembly in the ruling Party UDA have this Tuesday October 24 said they will be skipping the scheduled Thursday October 26 meeting sanctioned by Malala.

The politicians led by County Assembly Deputy Minority Whip Joyce Muthoni, have notified Mr. Malala that they will not participate in the meeting citing lack of transparency in the manner in which the Party was being run.

“We are writing in reference to the invitation to the meeting scheduled for this coming Thursday, purportedly to revisit the issues concerning the leadership of the Nairobi City County Assembly,” they said.

They accused Mr Malala of shortchanging them in many plans the party is undertaking especially in Nairobi County.

They also cited a situation where the current Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja appointed ODM Party members to key county positions while sidelining UDA-allied members who can also serve in those positions.

“Such actions raise legitimate questions regarding the Governor’s allegiance and fidelity to our party,” read part of the statement.

Interestingly, key politicians in the Assembly who have promised to stage a go-slow against the Party are those who recently got appointments to serve in various County Assembly positions.

Another reason given by the MCAs is that there still are unresolved leadership wrangles with the party’s disputes tribunal and which have to be attended to first before other meeting can be convened.

Therefore, attending the Malala’s Thursday meeting would be a violation of the sub judice rule instead of reinforcing fairness and integrity in the ruling party.

They also argued that Malala cannot purport to be on the forefront of addressing party disputes since this would amount to conflict of interest.

They advised the secretary general to remain on the periphery and wait for the tribunal to deliver its independent verdict.

Among senior politicians in UDA Party who have lodged petitions against Malala’s conduct include Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale who cited Malala’s early plans to meddle in grassroots elections.