UDA wrangles: Cleophas Malala ousted as Secretary General

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Executive Council has this morning resolved to remove Cleophas Malala as the Party's Secretary-General.

Party Vice Chairperson Hassan Omar now takes over Malala's position in an acting capacity.

"The National Executive Committee has determined to designate the Vice-Chairperson, Hassan Omar Hassan to act as the Secretary-General on an interim basis. The appointment of Cleophas Malala as the interim Secretary General is hereby revoked. These changes are effective immediately," UDA's NEC communicated on Friday, August 2.

Well-placed sources within UDA told The Standard that the meeting took place at 7.00 am, just hours before the Dispute Tribunal's order.

The decision follows internal wrangles within the President William Ruto-led Party.

Malala had Thursday evening moved to court to stop today's NEC meeting from taking place, arguing that the Party chairperson Cecily Mbarire had no powers to convene the meeting.

He claimed that the meeting was meant to illegally remove him from office.

The Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) on Friday morning issued orders barring UDA from conducting the NEC meeting, but an hour too late.

Malala's ouster comes on the back of chaos that transpired at the Party headquarters on Tuesday after his supporters and those of self-declared SG Joe Khalende clashed.

Khalende was injured in the fracas, forcing top party officials to convene a NEC meeting to resolve the dilemma.