Why Ruto's UDA will not suffer Jubilee's fate, Cleophas Malala explains

There is no chance the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) will disintegrate the way Jubilee Party did, Secretary General Cleophas Malala has said.

Speaking during TV47's 'Ukumbi Wa Siasa' show on Tuesday, March 14, Malala said that unlike Uhuru Kenyatta, UDA leader - President William Ruto - is a proven democrat who believes in consultation and dialogue before making any decision that affect the party.

Malala has been rallying Kenya Kwanza Alliance affiliate parties to fold and join the UDA, something that has not augur well with a majority of the parties. Nonetheless, Malala insists no party will be arm-twisted into making this decision.

"Hakuna udikteta katika muungano wa Kenya Kwanza kwa hivyo kilichotokea katika chama cha Jubilee hakitajirudia katika Kenya Kwanza. Kiongozi wa UDA Rais William Ruto hana historia ya kuwadhulumu watu ambao yuko kwenye muungano mmoja na wao," Malala said.

'Ruto, man of his word'

To further prove why UDA will not end up like Jubilee, Malala highlighted how President Ruto has so far honoured all the pre-election pacts that he signed with other coalition parties. This, despite the fact that even individual parties did not meet the conditions set during the coalition agreement signing.

"Tuliona aliweza kutimiza mkataba ambao alitia sahihi na vyama tanzu kabla ya uchaguzi mkuu wa 2022. Alitimiza mkataba huu licha ya kuwa vyama vya ANC na Ford Kenya habikufikisha asilimia 70 ya kura za eneo la Magharibi. Ruto ni rais anayeamini kwa haki, siyo kama yule kiongozi wa Jubilee ambaye alikubaliana jambo flani lakini anabadili mawazo yake akifika katikati," the former Kakamega senator added.

Jubilee's fate

In September 2016, 12 political parties - including Uhuru's TNA and Ruto's URP - dissolved and merged to form the Jubilee Party in the run up to the August 2017 General Election.

But barely six months after Jubilee secured then President Uhuru's second and last term in office, cracks emerged within the grand party.

The March 2018 handshake between Uhuru and opposition leader Raila Odinga only exercebated the cracks. The party split into two warrying factions; Kieleweke which comprised of MPs and State officers who pledged allegiance to then President Uhuru, and Tanga Tanga who subscribed to then Deputy President Ruto.

President Uhuru would go on and endorse the presidential bid of his handshake partner Raila, renegading on a promise he made to Ruto back in 2013, that he will reciprocate and support his bid.

The Tanga Tanga faction went on to form their new party, the UDA, which they used to successfully capture the presidency in last year's polls.

Meanwhile, Jubilee has been left with only a handful of MPs in Parliament.