Drama in UDA as members push for removal of Cleophas Malala as Secretary General

Led by Lawyer Joe Khalende, the group calling themselves 'founding members of UDA' accuses Malala of sabotaging the party's progress and the Broad-Based Government formed by party leader President William Ruto and his ODM counterpart Raila Odinga.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, Lawyer Khalende announced that he was the new acting Secretary General and that Malala has been barred from carrying out any functions of the ruling party.

Khalende who made the announcement also accused the former Kakamega Senator of being a mule for UDA’s opponents to cripple the development of the party.

“Malala has abdicated his role and duty as the SG of the ruling party. The critical role of the SG of the UDA party is the spokesperson of the party; he communicates and initiates meetings on behalf of the party. Clearly, Malala has joined our opponents. He is supporting the TAWE movement and agendas which contradict the ruling party,” said Khalende.

“He has gone against our party leader…he is on the forefront against the formation of a broad-based government and I am here to confirm that he is no longer the SG of the UDA party. I Joe Khalende will be taking over as the SG of the UDA party.”

The members say that Malala has failed in his mandate of running the party processes and conducting the grassroots elections which have in the past been marred by chaos and court orders.

They claimed that all UDA organs are aware of the removal since it has been ongoing over the last few months or so.

“The conversation to kick out the notorious man has been ongoing within the party. All the party organs are aware and we are all in line. We issued a show-cause letter to Malala, but he has frustrated the process. The party has been doing massive grassroots recruitment and election, he has frustrated the process,” said Khalende.

The group committed to supporting the new broad-based government, saying they would accelerate a push for grassroots elections with a new focus on winning over new ODM members following the purported new partnership attained from the broad-based government.

“Going forward, the grassroots elections will go on as planned, recruitment and rebranding will continue, and this is the best opportunity for us UDA members to extend an olive branch to our brothers In ODM and welcome them in government so that we build serikali pamoja and lift the lives of Kenyans in this broad-based government led by Ruto and Raila,” he said.