UDA plan to change Nairobi county assembly leadership halted

Political Parties Dispute Tribunal has barred President William Ruto-led party UDA from making leadership changes at the Nairobi county assembly.

On Tuesday, PPDT chairperson Desma Nungo gave the orders barring UDA from making any changes until a hearing and determination are done.

"Pending the inter-partes hearing and determination of this Application, this Honourable Tribunal hereby issues an interim order restraining the 2nd Respondent from enforcing and/or affecting the decision of the 1st Respondent to remove the Complainants/Applicants as the Minority Leader and the Minority Chief Whip of the 1st Respondent," Nungo said.

United Democratic Alliance Secretary General Cleophas Malala on Monday said that the MCAs will have the final say on their leadership.

Malala said that there are two factions which are embroiled in the leadership wrangles and that the matter will be addressed.

He said the party will convene a crisis meeting on Thursday to solve leadership wrangles at the Nairobi County Assembly.

“I have written a letter to convening a meeting of all elected Nairobi County UDA MCAs this Thursday at 10 am to resolve the issues of the leadership changes,” he said.

He explained that last week,  he received a complaint from a faction of the UDA MCAs who claimed that the embattled leadership led by Minority Leader Antony Kiragu and minority whip Mark Mugambi wanted to oust them.

On Monday, UDA communicated changes where Waithera Chege was named the minority leader to be deputised by Deonysias Mwangi (Githurai MCA).

Umoja One MCA Mark Mugambi was to be replaced by nominated MCA Joyce Muthoni as minority whip.

Muthoni was to be deputised by Clay MCA Samora Mwaura as her deputy.

The changes were said to be made after 35 MCAs alleged to have appended their signatures to change the leaders.

However, Malala noted that he received complaints that some of the signatures were forged.

He warned that the party would take action against those MCAs found to have forged signatures.

"If there were any issues on forgery, people will be held responsible. This is a matter of integrity and people will be held accountable and we will take disciplinary measures against them," Malala added.