The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has responded to a statement by ousted Secretary General Cleophas Malala which roped in senior members of the party in the alleged plot to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
UDA in a statement on Friday, August 16, warned Malala against “seeking sympathy” by dragging the party’s Chairperson in what it termed as frantic efforts to link his ouster with the purported impeachment of the DP.
“We find it gross that he is now casting aspersions on the part of the Party’s leadership, regrettably invoking the names of Party Chairperson Governor Cecily Mbarire and National Assembly Majority Leader Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah in the purported impeachment,” the statement read in part.
“We wish to caution Malala against roping the Party and particularly its Chairperson and the Majority Leader in the political shenanigans of an unfounded claim of Deputy President’s impeachment and seek his sympathies through any other means.”
UDA Speaks After Malala’s Controversial Statements
The party emphasized that Governor Mbarire, is not a Member of Parliament and thus cannot sponsor a motion of impeachment.
“As a Party, we find his behavior unbecoming and inappropriate for former SG Malala to drag her name and that of the Majority Leader in such an unfounded claim of the impeachment of the country’s Deputy President and must be asked to stop this rave,” the statement further reads.
In a press briefing on August 15, Malala claimed that his removal from the position was orchestrated by senior party officials and had nothing to do with incompetence or his ability to run the party.
Malala Claims Ichung’wa, Mbarire Behind DP Gachagua Impeachment Plan
The former Kakamega senator while terming his ouster ‘illegal’ alleged that Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah together with other officials hatched the plot to remove him first, before pushing for the impeachment of DP Gachagua.
Malala stated that the two want the deputy president out so that they can strategically position themselves within the emerging political re-alignments.
“Let it be known that the planned impeachment of the deputy president had nothing to do with President William Ruto, the broad-based government or any other narrative the coup plotters have advanced,” he said.
“The impeachment had everything to do with egocentric 2027 and 2032 politics from the Mt. Kenya region and was instigated and propelled by Cecily Mbarire and Kimani Ichungwa.”
Also Read: More Woes for Malala After UDA Ouster
He alleged that his close working relationship with the Deputy President irritated the officials, leading them to profile and label him as an obstacle to their plot and conspiracy to impeach Rigathi Gachagua.
UDA Clarifies His Sacking
Malala had also alleged that his removal as the UDA Secretary General was outright unlawful, unfair and a blatant contravention of the party constitution and laid down due processes.
Also Read: Gachagua Insider Reveals Details of Cabinet Meeting that Sparked Impeachment
The ousted Secretary General further claimed that no charges were filed against him, either publicly or privately, to justify his removal.
He also stated that he was not given a chance to defend himself, as required by law and the rules of natural justice.
In their response, UDA stated that Malala was legally and procedurally removed from office as the Secretary General of UDA, and the same acknowledged and ratified by the Registrar of Political Parties. The office subsequently effected the changes as required of it by law.
“Malala’s ouster was a collective decision by the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), the same organ that had appointed him to hold the position in an “acting” capacity. Suffice it to say, the organ that appointed him is the very one that unanimously decided to replace him,” the party further noted.
UDA Founder to File Application Against Malala
Meanwhile, UDA Founders Association earlier described Malala’s statement as outrageous and deserving of the contempt it merits.
They announced that they will file an application for disciplinary action against Malala with the Party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Committee, seeking his immediate expulsion and other remedial measures.
The association further said they take great exception to Malala’s illegal use of party stationery and logo to send statements to the media and cautioned staff against engaging in or transacting any business with him.
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