UDA wrangles: Nyeri governor asks party to get rid of SG Malala

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has sanctioned the ouster of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala.

In a statement on Facebook on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, Kahiga called for Malala’s dismissal in the next UDA polls. The outspoken county boss termed the former Kakamega Senator unfit to hold that position.

“I have seen the Malala press statement and in response I say; Ag SG Malala in UDA is like a square peg in a round hole. He doesn’t fit. I have said it before and I repeat, We must get rid of him in the coming UDA elections,” Governor Kahiga said.

Kahiga’s sentiments followed a censor order issued by Malala over the recent cracks in the ruling party. Malala called on Kahiga, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi to respect the presidency.

This followed his public defence of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over the recent onslaught from President William Ruto’s close allies.

However, Kahiga has rubbished Malala’s censor order maintaining that Gachagua must be respected.

“The Deputy President and Deputy party leader must be respected. We have come from an era of being gagged and threatened for speaking our minds.

“UDA was never built on such tenets and the earlier our ANC acting SG in UDA understood that, the better for him. I have reviewed my statement many times and given the same circumstances, I would say exactly what I said then and say it in the same way,” Governor Mutahi Kahiga added.

Additionally, this is not the first time Kahiga has called for Malala’s ouster.

In November 2023, the second-term governor sparked a storm in UDA after he proposed a raft of reforms including the ejection of Malala from the powerful Secretary General post. He argued that the SG post should be reserved for the Mt Kenya region.

“The position of secretary general should be given back to Veronica Maina as she did a nice job and this will be a great reward to the people of Mount Kenya.

“The Luhya community is firmly aligned with parties like ANC, Ford (K), and ODM. I don’t see how Malala will convince them to break away from their traditional affiliations,” Governor Kahiga stated.

Current UDA squabbles

The current UDA fallout reports revolve around DP Gachagua. On Saturday, May 25, 2024, he asked a section of Rift Valley lawmakers to keep Mt Kenya succession talks.

In response, Oscar Sudi, Ruto’s close ally reprimanded the second in command asserting that he will not be cowed.

To prevent the party from sliding into anarchy, Malala directed Sudi to cease attacking the DP.

However, Sudi remained adamant while belittling saying he is an elevated  Member of the County Assembly (MCA) and likened him to former Jubilee Party’s Raphael Tuju.

“Elevated MCA suffering from illusory superiority, thinking he matches Raphael Tuju’s calibre,” Sudi stated.

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