Chaos in UDA as Malala faction attacks self-declared Secretary General Khalende

Self-declared Secretary General Joe Khalende gets medical aid after sustaining a head injury during the clash. [File, Standard]

United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the three-year-old ruling party that once proclaimed it would lead Kenya for over a century, is now rocked by chaos and internal conflicts.

Wednesday, UDA headquarters was surrounded by police as pandemonium erupted after supporters of Secretary General Cleophas Malala clashed with those of self-declared Secretary General Joe Khalende.

The chaos began when Khalende, who had declared himself the acting Secretary General on Tuesday, attempted to enter the party headquarters.

His appearance led to a violent confrontation, leaving him injured and his supporters in disarray.

Malala’s supporters, undeterred by the heavy police presence, chanted slogans in support of their leader while waving placards, “Bado mapambano, bado mapambano, bado mapambano," shouting that they would not let anyone in the offices except the UDA secretary general.

The confrontation came at a time when there was a letter going around social media to the effect that Malala had resigned as UDA Secretary General.

He disowned the claims in a statement, dismissing them as 'propaganda.'

Malala insisted that the party was focused on helping President William Ruto achieve his campaign promises to Kenyans.

"Ignore propaganda. The party is stable and focused on helping President William Ruto achieve his agenda for Kenya. Chama iko Imara," Malala posted on X.

Later, UDA chairperson Cecily Mbarire in the company of other NEC officials, condemned Khalende’s unilateral declaration and the subsequent violence saying that UDA was a party that believed in law and there were clear ways of dealing with conflicts. 

This was after a group believed to be Malala’s supporters showed up at the party headquarters and roughed up Khalende.

“He has been badly hurt, we strongly condemn the people who have been mobilised to cause mayhem and hurt others. We are a party that believes in the rule of law, with clear ways of dealing with conflict. What happened today is unacceptable,” she said.

Mbarire condemned Khalende’s action saying that the party had a constitution and one could not just come and self-proclaim that they were an official without following the laid down rules.

“UDA has a constitution. Somebody cannot come to the party and declare themselves an official of the party without following the laid down party procedures,” she said.

She said they have called for an emergency NEC meeting on Friday that would address the internal matters in the party and announce the resolutions.

“The party will be back on its feet and we will not allow this to continue. We will take necessary action on Friday after the NEC meeting,” said Mbarire.

Khalende, who installed himself as SG on Tuesday evening, has accused Malala of sabotaging the party and criticising President Ruto's broad-based government.

He said that the UDA secretary general had been barred from carrying out his duties and declared himself the new acting Secretary General.

“Malala has gone against our party leader. He is on the forefront against the formation of a broad-based government,” he said.

Khalende's faction, identifying themselves as the "founding members of UDA" criticized Malala for allegedly neglecting his responsibilities and supporting the Tawe movement, contrary to UDA’s objectives.

They also accused Malala of failing to manage party processes and conduct grassroots elections, leading to internal chaos and legal disputes.

Khalende emphasized the need to proceed with grassroots elections and recruitment efforts, and to support the broad-based government.

“Moving forward, grassroots elections will proceed as planned. 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,” he said.

However, sources told The Standard that the wrangles in the UDA party are linked to the plot to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Khalende is being pushed into the secretary general seat to oust Malala, an ally of the DP who is the UDA deputy party leader.

For Gachagua to be impeached the top organs in the UDA party have to dismiss him from the party first before they initiate the impeachment motion and Malala has been seen as a stumbling block.