- Nyakundi could not confirm or deny if Malala had been removed as a signatory to UDA bank accounts.
- It is alleged that there are about 30 ghost workers in UDA, some who earn between Sh150,000-Sh300,000 a month.
Image: CLEOPHAS MALALA/X
Controversial UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala last night laughed off claims that he had been stripped off powers to manage the party’s bank accounts.
Malala said cartels in the party were behind the allegations as he vowed to ensure the party is run professionally.
“I have made it impossible to steal from the party. They cannot come here for Sh1 million or Sh5 million which they want to use over the weekend. I have made it very difficult for the cartels,” he added.
“A story that is not factual is not worth writing. Those allegations are not true,” Malala told the Star.
To prove his case, Malala initiated a conference call with Equity Bank manager where UDA has four accounts; the Political Parties Fund Account, the Elected Members Account, UDA Elections Account and Donations Account.
In all the accounts, the bank listed Malala, UDA chairperson Cecily Mbarire and National Treasurer Japheth Nyakundi as signatories.
Other signatories were Antony Mwaura and Nichodemus Bore.
Reports had indicated that Malala powers to run the party had been reduced in a dramatic turn of the UDA power struggle.
Malala, a close ally of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, was said to have been blocked from running the party's bank accounts after his signatory was withdrawn in what was seen as a wider scheme to isolate the DP's coterie.
Nyakundi could not confirm or deny if Malala had been removed as a signatory to UDA bank accounts.
“Whether he has been removed as a signatory or not is not important. What is important is that everything is going on smoothly in UDA. The party is bigger than any individual,” Nyakundi told the star.
An account signatory is an individual who has been granted rights to manage a bank account by an entity.
An account signatory may, therefore, “sign” on the account – which means, execute payments, sign cheques and otherwise dispose with the money on the account.
A source told the Star that the party has been rocked with claims that it has been paying salaries to ghost workers.
It was also alleged that there are about 30 ghost workers, some who earn between Sh150,000 and Sh300,000 a month.
The latest conflict in the party started when Malala returned from a trip in China on May 29 and fired a warning to some leaders drawn from the party over their recent conduct.
"I have been deeply concerned by reports of indiscipline among some of the elected leaders within our party, UDA. My attention has been drawn to the fact that certain individuals continue to show blatant disrespect to the party leadership," he said.
Malala's warning did not spare Cabinet Secretaries in President Ruto's government.
He told Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and Roads and Infrastructure CS Kipchumba Murkomen to resign if they wanted to engage in politics.
He also warned Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, her Kapseret counterpart Oscar Sudi, and Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga over their conduct.
Nyakundi however downplayed the scale of the conflict, noting that employees of the party have been paid last month’s salaries though there were some delays.
“The issue of signatory does not arise. The question is, have workers been paid? Yes they have,” he said.
On issue of ghost workers, Nyakundi said he was not sure if the party has some.
He however said the party has instances of employees who were employed irregularly.
“A staff audit will be undertaken soon and if there will be any issues, we will address them,” he added.
Nyakundi said the party’s focus at the moment is to have free and fair grassroots elections.
“Grassroots elections is our focus. So far so good. People have been coming out in large numbers to elect officials, and I think that is commendable. So far so good. The party is fine,” he added.
When he returned from China, Malala warned that the party would take disciplinary action against indisciplined members should they fail to change their behaviour.
Sudi immediately hit back at the UDA secretary general following his warning to leaders engaging in early political campaign activities. Sudi dismissed Malala's warning, terming him as an elevated MCA.
Wamuchomba promised Malala a bruising battle following the warning.
I’m happy you have started the journey it will be bumpy and itchy.
Kahiga also called out Malala, vowing to oust him from the position in the upcoming UDA party elections.