The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party is set to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting following Tuesday’s ‘ouster’ of the party’s Secretary-General, Cleophas Malala.
Embu governor who also doubles as UDA’s national chairperson on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, said that the party will be convening the meeting on Friday.
Mbarire and other officials condemned the chaos witnessed at the party’s headquarters on Wednesday, which resulted to an attack on self-proclaimed SG Joe Khalende.
Governor Mbarire while addressing the press highlighted that no individual could declare themselves an official without following Party structures. She further pointed out that the NEC would resolve the emerging matters within the party in a fair way.
“Therefore, I wish to announce that we are going to have a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which is an emergency meeting, on Friday to resolve the matters that have emerged in the party since yesterday.
I wish to assure all our members that as NEC we shall make sure that we resolve those matters in a fair and best way possible and the party will be back on its feet and that we will not allow what we have seen happen, continue,” said Governor Mbarire.
Further, the chairperson said that the National Executive Committee will announce its decisions to UDA party members and members of the public.
UDA Chairperson Speaks After Chaos Over Malala Ouster
Mbarire gave the way forward while condemning the chaos that were earlier witnessed at the party headquarters, adding that the party’s decisions are not made through hooliganism.
“Be rest assured that we have taken up this matter very seriously and we will take the necessary action on Friday during the NEC meeting,” added Mbarire.
“We will be able to announce to our members and the public, the decisions of NEC because that’s where the decisions are made. Our decisions are not made on the streets or political hooliganism decisions are made by the laid down structures of the Party.”
Also Read: Protests at UDA Headquarters Amid Cleophas Malala Ouster Reports
Mbarire’s statement came after self-declared UDA party Secretary General Joe Khalende was injured on Wednesday after supporters of SG Cleophas Malala stormed the offices.
A video seen by The Kenya Times showed supporters storm the offices at the party headquarters based along Ngong Road, while another video showed Khalende’s head bandaged, with blood stains on his shirt.
His supporters were heard stopping him from addressing the crowd citing that he should seek treatment first.
“You can as well address people while at the hospital,” they told Khalende.
Police were also on guard at the headquarters where the group chanted pro-Malala slogans while insisting that SG Malala was still a part of the UDA leadership.
Wrangles within the Party
The standoff notably came after Khalende declared himself the SG, claiming that he had ousted Malala.
Also Read: UDA Coup: Confusion as Malala Addresses Ouster
Khalende, a lawyer, claimed that Malala was going against the Party’s objectives including being against the broad-based government formed by President William Ruto.
However, Cleophas Malala in a retaliatory statement dismissed a letter alleging his resignation.
Malala termed the letter that circulated on social media on Tuesday as ‘propaganda’, insisting that the party is focused on helping President Ruto achieve his campaign promises to Kenyans.
“Ignore propaganda. The party is stable and focused on helping President William Ruto achieve his agenda for Kenya. Chama iko Imara,” Malala said on X.
The letter alleging his resignation claimed that he had done so, after deep reflection on recent troubling developments.
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