UDA cracks: NEB chair Anthony Mwaura clashes with Malala over West Pokot elections
Cracks in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) seem to be deepening, with the latest clash involving National Elections Board chairperson Anthony Mwaura and the party's secretary general Cleophas Malalah.
The two have openly clashed about grassroots elections for West Pokot, scheduled for Friday, May 31, 2024.
In the latest episode, Malalah had ordered the postponement of the elections following complaints filed on May 21, 2024, and a ruling by the Electoral & Nomination Disputes Resolution Committee.
In a statement earlier on Thursday, hours before the elections, Malala ordered NEB to postpone the elections until the full hearing and ruling on the matter.
"This communication addresses the complaint filed on 21st May 2024 concerning the aforementioned elections. The complainant's complaint dated 21st May 2024 discloses weighty issues. The Ruling on the complaint is hereby deferred for the next seven days. The Respondent (National Elections Board) is hereby ordered not to conduct any further elections in the affected constituencies until the committee delivers its ruling," Malalah stated.
"In adherence to the UDA Party constitution and to respect the integrity of the party's organs we hereby postpone the planned constituency elections in the affected constituencies to a later date that will be communicated by the National Elections Board."
In a quick rejoinder, Electoral and Nomination Disputes Resolution Committee vice chairperson Adrian Kamotho denied Malalah's allegations that the party had made such a decision.
"Our attention is drawn to a public notice issued by the acting Secretary General of the UDA party purporting to reference an Order of the Electoral and Nomination Disputes Resolution Committee (ENDRC). The referenced Order is FAKE and the same did not emanate from the ENDRC," Kamotho stated.
UDA's NEB
Worse still, UDA's NEB chairperson Anthony Mwaura told off Malalah, claiming he has no mandate in handling election affairs in the party.
"Reference is made to a Notice by the acting Secretary General purporting to postpone the ongoing elections in West Pokot County. Article 21 of the UDA constitution establishes the National Elections Board as an independent organ of the Party that must act independently of any direction from anybody or any party organ," Mwaura stated.
"Resultantly, any notice purporting to address election matters is unlawful, without basis and is therefore null and void. For greater certainty, this position was clarified by the Political Parties and Disputes Tribunal in Complaint 23 of 2023, Walter Trenk & Another Vs. Cleophas Malala." 
According to the ruling by the Political Parties and Disputes Tribunal quoted by Mwaura, "the National Elections Board is the only organ of the Interested Party (UDA )mandated to plan, organize, direct and coordinate internal party elections, and therefore make announcements related to the preparations for the forthcoming grassroots elections".
Mwaura has directed that the elections in West Pokot will go on as earlier announced.
"The UDA party will carry on with ALL the Constituency level elections scheduled to take place tomorrow the 31/5/2024, in compliance with the earlier notice. All subsequent elections will continue in accordance with the schedule or as shall by time to time be notified."
