On Wednesday, protesting youths stormed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) offices in Nairobi.
According to videos seen by this writer, the protesters were seen holding large placards and twigs, demanding to speak with the party leaders.
The furious demonstrators accused the UDA party hierarchy of unjustly planning to oust the current party Secretary General, Cleophas Malala.
In widely circulated footage, the protesting youths attempted to breach the Hustler centre office premises through the gates.
However, the demonstration was cut short when armed police officers intervened.
This incident follows Joe Khalende’s reported declaration of himself as the party’s new secretary-general, announcing Malala’s dismissal.
Khalende’s group, which identifies itself as the ‘founding members of UDA,’ on Tuesday accused Malala of undermining the party’s progress and the Broad-Based Government, a collaboration between UDA leader President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Khalende declared himself the new acting Secretary-General, announcing that Malala had been barred from performing any duties related to the ruling party. Khalende criticized Malala for allegedly sabotaging the party’s operations and for being a supporter of the TAWE movement, which is contrary to UDA’s objectives.
“Malala has neglected his responsibilities as Secretary-General. His role is to act as the party’s spokesperson and to initiate meetings. Instead, he has aligned himself with our opponents and is working against the formation of a broad-based government,” Khalende stated.
He further claimed that Malala’s failure to manage party processes and conduct grassroots elections has led to chaos and legal disputes. The removal of Malala, according to Khalende, has been discussed within the party for months, and all relevant party organs are aware of this decision.
Khalende emphasized that the party will continue with grassroots elections, recruitment, and rebranding efforts. He also expressed commitment to supporting the new broad-based government, focusing on integrating ODM members and advancing the partnership between Ruto and Raila Odinga to improve the lives of Kenyans.
“Moving forward, grassroots elections will proceed as planned, and our efforts to recruit and rebrand will continue. This is a crucial moment for us to extend a welcoming hand to our ODM counterparts and collaborate in building a united government to enhance the well-being of Kenyans,” Khalende concluded.
Additional reporting by Agencies
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