It has now being revealed that over 50% of UDA’s National Executive Committee (NEC) called for the meeting that resolved to kick out Cleophas Malala as the party’s secretary general.
Article 8 of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party constitution stipulates that 25% of the NEC members, which is in charge of the secretariat, can petition the National Chairperson to call a meeting.
While refuting Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s claims that Malala’s dismissal was procedural, Chinga Ward MCA Kiruga Thuku said that over 50% of NEC members signed a petition to call for the meeting that kicked out Malala.
Thuku, who is UDA Party MCAs Caucus Chairperson and, also refuted Gachagua’s assertions that the meeting was held at odd hours.
“Someone lied to our Deputy Party Leader [Rigathi Gachagua] that we met at 5 am. I want to say that we met between 7am and 7:30 am and unanimously made the changes regarding our Secretary General,” Kiruga, who is also a member of the NEC, told TV47 Digital.
According to Kiruga, the NEC often meet without the Party Leader (President William Ruto) and the Deputy Party Leader (Gachagua), and that is in order.
“We meet at various times without our Party Leader and our Deputy Party because we respect the fact that they are extremely busy leaders,” he opined.
‘I was not informed’
In an interview with Gikuyu vernacular stations last Sunday, DP Gachagua lamented that he was not consulted in the decision to remove Malala, claiming that he learnt of the ouster from his aides.
“Malala was kicked out at 5 am from the ruling party. I was not called to that meeting that decided to remove him from his seat. My aides were the ones informing me that the meeting was held at 5 am and the decision made. This should not be happening because this is the ruling party,” the second in command said.
He said that the Kenya Kwanza Government is currently facing many battles, including the Gen Z protests, and Finance Bill row, and that bringing in UDA Party wrangles was only deteriorating the already precarious situation.
