UDA ousts Malala despite dawn court order stopping NEC

Cleophas Malala was removed as UDA secretary general despite a court order stopping the party's NEC meeting that ousted him. [File, Standard]

The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) got a taste of what has been a preserve of the opposition parties, as teargas was lobbed in its headquarters during the ouster of Cleophas Malala as the party's Secretary General. 

Malala was declared persona non grata and East African Legislative Assembly lawmaker Hassan Omar installed as the new UDA Secretary General during a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting convened by chairperson Cecily Mbarire. 

In a statement after the meeting, the NEC revoked the appointment of Malala as the UDA secretary general and announced that Vice Chairperson Omar will now serve as the party's secretary general on interim basis. 

"National Executive Committee was convened today through the request of the Committee to discuss, deliberate and agree on the way forward based on the events of the last few days in the party," the NEC statement read in part.

"Resultantly, the party will be implementing a raft of governing and administrative measures to accelerate is agenda and to set forth a distinctive path of inclusive, participative and consultative organisation," read the statement. 

Besides the UDA Chairperson, the NEC was attended by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa and Senate Majority Leader Boni Khalwale among other senior members. The party leader President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua did not attend.

Moments after the NEC meeting, youths believed to be Malala's supporters attempted to storm the party headquarters along Ngong Road, Nairobi, however they were repulsed by police deployed to man the premises. 

This comes after self-declared UDA secretary general Joe Khalende was attacked by a group suspected to be Malala's supporters, on Wednesday at the party's headquarters.

Earlier, there was confusion after Malala secured court orders to stop the NEC meeting. He argued that Mbarire has no powers to convene such a meeting and proposed that it be held on August 9. 

Omar accused Malala of sowing seeds of discord within the party and sabotaging the agenda of the Kenya Kwanza government. "Then the party has the ability to defend itself against such characters and where we take issue is the deliberate scheme to sabotage the presidency," he said.