Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala has revealed that he personally warned President William Ruto against plans to impeach former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, saying the move would have destabilised the government and the ruling party.

Speaking during an interview on Thursday, April 24, 2025, Malala said he advised the president that removing Gachagua would weaken the administration and create deep divisions within UDA, but he was dismissed.

“When I personally advised the president, as the secretary general, that Rigathi’s impeachment is not good for us politically, I told him this is going to ensure we destabilise our government; this is going to ensure that our ship would sink. He dismissed me as an enemy,” he said.

Despite his opposition, Malala said he was later asked to sign documents supporting the impeachment process.

“I was then asked to sign the impeachment,” he added.

He further claimed there was a proposal to amend party leadership by creating two deputy party leader positions, a move designed to ensure a smooth transition after Gachagua’s removal.

“They even brought in a suggestion that UDA have two deputy party leaders so that when they remove Rigathi Gachagua, the other party leader automatically becomes the deputy president. They wanted to have two so that the transition would be smooth. I advised them against it; I told them this would destabilise the party, but they were adamant,” Malala stated.

According to Malala, his resistance to the plan cost him his job as UDA’s SG.

“So the only thing was that Malala must go out, and that is why they kicked me out. I have no regret,” he added.

Gachagua’s impeachment

A total of 281 Members of Parliament (MPs) voted for his removal, while 44 backed him and one abstained.

MPs broke into song and dance shortly after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced at 9.20 pm. The 59-year-old politician who rose to the DP after one term as an MP had dramatically fallen out with his boss, Ruto.

Gachagua faced 11 counts of impeachment revolving around gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office and corruption.

His efforts to whip up the emotions of his Central Kenya base with claims of persecution seem to have failed him.

The National Assembly had given Gachagua time to defend himself against the accusations prior to the voting that saw him ousted as DP.

The matter will now move to the Senate, which will hear the impeachment case against DP Gachagua, and should the National Assembly decision be upheld, he will cease to hold office as the DP.

However, Gachagua will move to court to fight his ouster should the Senate uphold his impeachment.

Malala on his ouster

In August 2024, Malala stated that his removal was part of a larger strategy that aimed to culminate in Gachagua’s impeachment, citing his positive working relationship with the Deputy President as a source of irritation for Mbarire and Ichung’wah.

“My ouster by these officials had nothing to do with incompetence or my inability to run the UDA party; it was a well-choreographed script intended to climax with the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua,” he explained.

“When their concerted efforts to pit me against my Deputy Party Leader failed, I was profiled and labelled an obstacle to their evil plot and conspiracy to have Rigathi Gachagua impeached.”