Khalwale seeks Ouster of Malala as UDA’s Acting Secretary-General

The Senator from Kakamega has submitted a request to the Committee for Resolving Intra-Party Conflicts within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) seeking the removal of the acting Secretary-General, Cleophas Malala.

In his request, Dr. Khalwale, who is also the Senate Majority Leader and another UDA member, Walter Mkinginyi Trenk, accuse Malala of overstepping his authority and interfering with the responsibilities of the National Elections Committee (NEC) of the party.

They question the Secretary-General’s move to unilaterally appoint election supervisors at the county and regional levels to oversee the grassroots elections starting on December 9, 2023.

“Malala has overstepped his role and interfered with the work of the National Elections Committee. The complainants stand to lose more if this committee does not intervene,” they argue.

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Dr. Khalwale and Trenk claim that the Secretary-General made these appointments without allowing these positions to be contested, and without the knowledge of the party members, some of whom might have been eligible for those roles.

They argue that there is no evidence to suggest that the National Executive Committee (NEC) or the National Elections Committee were consulted before the appointment of the election supervisors at the county and regional levels.

“By neglecting his duties and interfering with the work of the National Elections Committee, it’s clear that Malala intends to direct the process by appointing his cronies and friends as election supervisors,” Dr. Khalwale and Trenk state.

“Some of those appointed, especially in Western, Nairobi, and Vihiga, are longtime friends of the Secretary-General,” they inform the Conflict Resolution Committee.

According to Dr. Khalwale and Trenk, Malala appointed a group of election supervisors, even though he is a candidate in the elections, perpetuating a conflict of interest.

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Those appointed by Malala on October 4, 2023, include Khali Abdi Adhan overseeing UDA elections in the Coast region, Bernard Nguruna (Central Kenya region), Kiprotich Ngetich (South Rift region), Paul Kiprop (North Rift region), Albert Mutani (East of Mount Kenya region), Joseph Mulu (South-East region), and Idle Muhamud overseeing the North-East region.

Others are Martha Wahome (Central I region), Peter Mbogo (Central II region), Wario Gulacho (Upper Eastern region), Rufftone Mwatia (Nairobi region), Ezekiel Bosire (South Nyanza region), Esther Ndungu (East Rift Valley region), Francis Kibai (North Rift II region), Alex Khamasi (Western region), and Supeet Daniel (Narok/Kajiado region).

Based on these appointments, Khalwale and Trenk are requesting the committee to prevent Mr. Malala from carrying out the duties of the UDA Secretary-General.

Khalwale and Trenk express concerns that these appointments contravene Chapter 6, Section 47 of the Constitution and should be nullified.

This request comes amid heightened tensions between Senator Khalwale and Mr. Malala, with the senator accusing the Secretary-General of making divisive statements within the ruling party.

Speaking in September 2023 at a UDA party meeting in his home in Malinya, Kakamega, Dr. Khalwale stated that Malala lacks the authority to instruct affiliate parties in Kenya First to dissolve.

“The advice we can give him is this: Direct the dissolution order for ANC and not Ford Kenya because you are not a member of Ford Kenya,” Mr. Khalwale said.

“How can you be the Secretary-General when you haven’t helped those you had in ANC to join the party where you were given a high position?” he asked.

However, UDA leader William Ruto has given his statement on the matter, saying that affiliate parties within Kenya First will not be forced to dissolve. He stated that UDA will provide guidelines on how to work with partner parties that choose to maintain their presence.

Malala is facing criticism regarding the appointment of UDA election supervisors, as Member of Parliament for Kimilili, Didmus Barasa, has alleged that the Secretary-General is an “agent” of ODM within UDA.

During a press briefing, Barasa claimed that Malala is promoting campaigns to undermine parties like Ford Kenya and ANC in the Western region for the benefit of ODM “leading up to the 2027 general election.”

“If the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UDA does not remove Mr. Malala from the position of Secretary-General, we will head to the UDA Hustler Centre and forcefully remove him, just as Magerer Lang’at was ousted from ODM,” Barasa told the media at the parliamentary buildings in Nairobi.