UDA clears confusion on Secretary General position after standoff

"Somebody cannot come and declare himself or herself an official of the party."

In Summary

• Chairperson Cecily Mbarire insisted that the party has clear structures and organs that make decision.

• She said no one in the party can just decide declare him or herself an official of the party, without following the laid down procedures.

UDA chairperson Cecily Mbarire and the party's Secretary General Cleophas Malala addressing the media at party headquarters along Ngong road, Nairobi on April 3 2024
UDA chairperson Cecily Mbarire and the party's Secretary General Cleophas Malala addressing the media at party headquarters along Ngong road, Nairobi on April 3 2024
Image: FILE

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has cleared the air over the confusion that has marred the party over the last two days on the position of secretary general.

This comes after one Joe Khalende stormed the party headquarters on Tuesday evening, announcing himself as the party's SG.

Speaking on Wednesday, Chairperson Cecily Mbarire insisted that the party has clear structures and organs that make decisions.

She said no one in the party can just decide to declare him or herself an official of the party, without following the laid down procedures.

"UDA has a constitution, clear party structures and organs within which decisions are made and therefore somebody cannot come and declare him or herself an official of the party without following the laid down party procedures for him or her to be in the position they declare they belong to," Mbarire said.

The UDA chair condemned Khalende's move to declare himself the party's SG.

Mbarire also called out individuals who were mobilised to go to the party headquarters to cause chaos, on Wednesday morning.

"We condemn in the strongest terms possible the people who have been mobilised to come to the party to cause mayhem and hurt others. We are a party that believes in the rule of law, with very clear ways and means of dealing with conflict and do not in any way support what has happened today," she said.

Khalende was on Wednesday injured after supporters of secretary-general Cleophas Malala stormed the offices.

The supporters stormed the offices at the party headquarters on Ngong Road.

In a video seen by the Star, Khalende had his head bandaged with blood stains on his shirt.

His supporters were heard stopping him from addressing the crowd citing that he should seek treatment first.

Khelende claimed that there were people who had plans to take his life.

The standoff came after Khalende declared himself the SG, claiming that he had ousted Malala.

He claimed that Malala was going against the Party's objectives including being against the broad-based government formed by President William Ruto.

Khalende also claimed that Malala has not been taking his duties as the SG seriously, therefore the need to replace him.

"He is against the formation of a broad-based government and I'm here to confirm that he is no longer the secretary general of the UDA party. I Joe Khalende will be taking over as the Secretary General of the UDA party," he said.

"Going forward, the UDA party is going back to its members. It was formed as a people-centred party, not on individuals within the party."

WATCH: The latest videos from the Star