Ousted United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala has said that a plan to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was initiated by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire.

While reports of a potential impeachment motion against Gachagua had previously surfaced, the momentum around the issue has since diminished.

However, Malala, who was removed from his position and replaced by Hassan Omar, insists that the two Mount Kenya leaders were behind the scheme to strategically position themselves within the evolving political landscape.

In a press briefing on Thursday, August 15, 2024, Malala stated that his removal was linked to his knowledge of the impeachment plot, claiming he has 18 evidence-backed accusations against both Mbarire and Ichung’wah.

“The impeachment was instigated and propelled by Mrs Cecily Mbarire and Mr Kimani Ichung’wah. These two want our Deputy President out so they can strategically position themselves within the merging political realignment,” he said.

“This backward politics must be called out because if left unchecked, it threatens the stability and popularity of the UDA Party, which party leader President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua worked hard to build. This is just one of the 18 evidence-backed accusations I have against Kimani Ichung’wah and Mbarire. They are aware of this, are afraid, and that’s the reason they hurriedly plotted to remove me from office.”

Malala on his ouster

Malala further 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.”