The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Founders Association has initiated proceedings to expel Cleophas Malala, the former acting Secretary General, from the party. The decision was disclosed by Joe Khalende, the association’s chairperson, in a statement released on Thursday, July 15. Khalende confirmed that the association plans to file a disciplinary action against Malala with the party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Committee, seeking his immediate removal.
“We, as the founding members association, will immediately file a disciplinary action against Malala at the party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Committee to seek his immediate expulsion from the party among other remedial and consequential measures,” Khalende stated.
Khalende also criticized Malala for what he described as a persistent pattern of disloyalty and divisiveness within the party ranks. “Before he exited the party under a cloud, Malala had developed a repulsive habit of sowing seeds of hatred and cultivating division among party leaders for his own parochial interests,” the statement read.
The association expressed its full support for the recent leadership changes within the UDA, praising the party’s new direction under the leadership of Hassan Omar. Khalende noted that the issues raised, including the audit of staff, review of procurement processes, conclusion of grassroots elections, and the implementation of President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), are “firmly on course.”
Malala’s removal has sparked controversy within the party, with the former Kakamega Senator alleging that his ouster was orchestrated by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire. Malala claimed that his removal had less to do with his performance and more with an alleged plot to undermine Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“This coup was plotted and orchestrated by two senior party officials alongside others within the party secretariat. These senior officials are Cecily Mbarire and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah,” Malala alleged.
