Boni Khalwale and UDF chair kicked out of party

The United Democratic Forum (UDF) was a house on fire yesterday after the special National Delegates Congress expelled Senator Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) and embattled Chairman Hassan Aden Osman.

Nominated Senator Martha Wangari and nominated county assembly member Nathan Kamidi were also shown the door by the party's special NDC in what appeared to be a purge of personalities perceived to not toe the party line.

The delegates met at the party's offices in Lavington and resolved to re-organise the party in what has now become a long-running battle for control of the party between former officials led by Mr Osman and those favoured by Party leader Musalia Mudavadi.

"The party resolved to expel with immediate effect the said members from the UDF party membership register as provided for in the party constitution," the special NDC resolution read in part.

Osman was replaced by Kassim Ali Sawa, with Yare Mohammed being endorsed as first deputy chairperson.

But Ms Wangari said there is already a case before the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal which ruled that the status quo remains which she added meant Mr Mudavadi and any other member had been barred from transacting business on behalf of the party.

Addressing the Press at a Nairobi hotel yesterday, Wangari dismissed the NDC organised by Mudavadi's faction that endorsed the suspension.

"It is laughable that I and Senator Khalwale can be suspended by a group of people who are not the bona fide officials of the UDF party. As far as I am concerned, there is no official communication to me and we are in the party to stay," said Wangari.

Khalwale said he will ignore media reports and only give a statement after he receives official communication from the party leadership.

"I have nothing to say because as we speak, I have neither received any expulsion letter from UDF nor any one," said Khalwale.

Wangari accused Mudavadi's group of using machinations to wreak havoc in the party contrary to the law as stipulated in the Political Parties Act.

"There are already restraining orders issued by the Political parties Dispute Tribunal against Party Leader Mudavadi, his deputy Jeremiah Kioni, Kassim Sawe and Chief Executive Petronilla Were. We will wait until the case is heard and determined," said Wangari.

Analyse issues

Another faction led by Osman will today hold its National Executive Council meeting to analyse the issues that are causing jitters in the party.

The notice to attend today's meeting has already been sent by party Secretary General Abraham Limo.

At the UDF meeting yesterday, the battle for the ownership of the party also took centre stage as the party re-branded against the wishes of the former officials who have insisted that the party maintains its current identity.

The party will now be known as the Amani National congress (ANC). There have been suggestions that the party was being prepared as a vehicle to win over Western Kenya vote in preparation for the next general election.

There was tension at the party's offices as youths allegedly allied to the ousted officials threatened to disrupt the meeting. Police had to keep vigil to prevent the youths, who were armed with crude weapons, from accessing the premises. The meeting was attended by more than 200 delegates.

The NDC first met in a closed session before they called an open meeting to announce the resolutions.

UDF has been in a fluid political motion since the last general election, in which Mudavadi emerged fourth.

The infighting within the party led to the former chairman moving to Political Parties Dispute Tribunal to oppose his suspension. The NGC was set for last Friday but was postponed due to the challenge mounted by the former officials.

Article 103 of the Constitution and Section 14 of the Political Parties Act empower political parties to expel MPs, MCAs and party officials.

Mudavadi addressed the delegates and reiterated what appeared to have been a well-choreographed theme of branding the former party officials as self-seekers out to destroy the party.

"As Kenyans we should know that party issues cannot be personalised. No individual in any political party should hold people at ransom. All members have resolved that we want order and discipline in the party," said Mudavadi who was accompanied by deputy party leader Jeremiah Kioni.

Mr Kioni termed the former officials as "spoilers".

"It is like a dog that is not eating but is keen to prevent the cow from partaking of pasture. Today's exercise gives those who want to seek political power in 2017 to start preparing for higher office," he said.

"The difficulties we went through seeking for votes in the last general election emanated from the office that we have now dealt with. The chairman has been approached severally to resolve the issues facing the party but he has shown total contempt," he added.

Others who attended the meeting were MPs Yusuf Chanzu, Benjamin Washiali and Ayub Savula.

Additional reporting by Kennedy Okwach.