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Omar: We'll replace Gachagua with Kindiki after cases

The UDA Secretary General said Gachagua cannot continue being the party's second in command

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by JAMES MBAKA

News30 October 2024 - 11:45

In Summary


  • Omar said UDA will not allow Gachagua to remain the deputy party leader given his frosty relationship with the party leadership and President Ruto.
  • "This is purely a political process. No court can give you leadership. The relationship is already strained and he cannot continue serving as the deputy party leader,'' Omar said.


The UDA party is now ready to appoint Kithure Kindiki as the outfit's deputy leader to replace impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar has revealed that the process would be completed once the ongoing court cases are finalised.

Omar said once the court confirms Gachagua's removal from office as deputy president, UDA will install Kindiki swiftly, even at 6 am.

The UDA spokesperson said the party Constitution provides that the deputy president shall be its deputy leader.

"This is something that will be done in a matter of minutes. We will meet at 6 am and by 6:30 am we will have announced him(Kindiki) as the new deputy party leader,'' Omar said.

The party's NEC also ousted former Secretary General Cleophas Malala. Malala is a key ally of Gachagua.

A three-judge bench of the High Court will on Thursday deliver its decision on whether to delay Kindiki from taking oath of office as the country's deputy president.

The National Assembly, Senate, Attorney General Dorcus Oduor and Kindiki have asked the bench to lift conservatory orders that barred the swearing-in.

However, Gachagua wants the orders extended until his legal battle to overturn his impeachment is concluded.

In the meantime, UDA whose party leader is President William Ruto, is gearing up to replace Gachagua at the helm after falling out with his boss.

Omar said UDA will not allow Gachagua to remain the deputy party leader given his frosty relationship with the party leadership and President Ruto.

"This is purely a political process. No court can give you leadership. The relationship is already strained and he cannot continue serving as the deputy party leader,'' Omar said.

"The National Executive Committee, the party's highest decision-making organ will announce Gachagua immediately after the court case is concluded."

 The former Mombasa Senator said the party constitution does not envisage a scenario where there could be two deputy party leaders.

"That is why we proposed to amend the Constitution to retain one deputy leader and two assistant deputy party leaders,'' he said.

The proposal is yet to be adopted by the party's National Delegates Convention but has already received blessings from the National Executive Committee.

Mooted early this year, the plan initially sought to have three deputy leaders, but pressure from Gachagua's allies saw Ruto's camp back down.

The President's confidants then came up with the idea of having two assistant party leaders. 

"We were moving forward as a party and we had committed to uniting Kenyans,'' Omar said.







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