President William Ruto on September 12 held a meeting with United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party members ahead of their nationwide elections set for December 5, 2023.
The Head of State addressed the internal wrangles and claims of an attempt to derail the scheduled party elections during the meeting with senior officials which lasted six hours.
Moreover, this meeting came after concerns arose that the UDA secretariat may not be able to proceed with the party’s December elections as planned.
Some of the party members proposed staggered polls, a proposition which president Ruto rejected, insisting that all elections should take place on the same day.
Furthermore, some secretariat officials were accused of hiring ‘friends’ who are not qualified to manage a political party and drawing unjustifiable allowances. .
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“We have already set up a technical committee, which is going to look into and clean up the register. We shall have two weeks before the members of UDA to verify the register,” UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala told journalists after the meeting.
Ruto Recommendations
While addressing the internal wrangles of the ruling party, President Ruto reportedly warned officials that they risk losing their positions in the elections.
According to reports, this warning was directed to senior officials who were allegedly being used by a senior government official to undermine Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Similarly, Ruto said the party will conduct an audit of its accounts before the set elections after reports of financial mismanagement and questionable procurement practices within UDA arose.
Party Wrangles
Members of the President William Ruto-led UDA Party have recently been publicly feuding following their internal wrangles.
Moreover, this came after a section of the party members expressed concerns about its management, accusing UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala of bullying members and interfering in their affairs.
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Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa,publiclyy accused Malala of taking sides in an ongoing dispute between Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi and certain ward representatives in the county.
Also, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss in June expressed her disappointment after a chaotic party event in Mombasa.
“I am disappointed with the performance of Malala. He has been going on UDA membership drives and many of them have ended in violence,” she said then.
Malala previously told Mudavadi to forget about his presidential ambitions, claiming that his ANC outfit was a village party.
Nonetheless, President Ruto vowed to visit UDA offices every month in preparation for the party elections.
