Cleophas Malala Speaks on Cracks in UDA Amid Push to Remove Him as Secretary General
United Democratic Movement Secretary General Cleophas Malala has addressed the unease in the ruling party over the planned December 9.
Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya, Malala acknowledged there were concerns among party members regarding the elections with some members fearing that there are favored candidates for the party leadership positions.
Malala has refuted the claim noting that there are no favoured candidates in the upcoming internal elections aimed at restructuring the party.
The SG, who has been facing opposition from notable leaders of the party including Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, reiterated that the officials will be elected by the party members.
He added that the party will be holding the elections electronically with plans for the December 9 exercise in top gear.
“This is the first election that is going to be done digitally and I want to assure all our party members that these elections are going to be free and fair. Let nobody have any fears,” he stated.
“All persons aspiring to be leaders of the party are going to have a free and fair election.”
Malala was speaking while inspecting the Bomas of Kenya where the party will be holding the UDA National Women Congress on Friday, October 13.
ALSO READ:
The UDA party is set to hold the party elections across the country to fill party positions, including the party leader and deputy party leader positions.
In readiness for the exercise, Malala appointed regional election managers to oversee the exercise. However, the move was challenged in court by Khalwale who explained that the party members were not involved in picking the election officials.
On the other hand, Kimilili lawmaker Didmus Barasa accused the SG of favoritism, further calling for his removal.
He also alleged that Malala was being used by the opposition to wreck the Kenya Kwanza faction from within.
“Malala is on a self-destruction path and in the next few months he will exit. The way he was performed is below the bar,” Barasa stated during an interview on Spice FM on October 11.
Insiders at UDA, who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke, claimed that the row had widened to the point where Malala was seeking the support of a section of MPs to battle Barasa openly.
“Malala has sponsored some MPs to hold press conferences and defend him,” the source who asked to speak on condition of anonymity claimed.
PoliticalPulseChat could not independently verify the allegations. Malala has also yet to clarify the same.
Cleophas Malala Speaks on Cracks in UDA Amid Push to Remove Him as Secretary General