Self-declared UDA Secretary General Joe Khalende has been injured following chaos witnessed at the party headquarters along Ndong Road in Nairobi.
Tens of UDA supporters believed to be allied to Cleophas Malalah invaded the party offices on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, chanting songs in support of the former Kakamega Senator.
Police were forced to intervene to save Khalende from the wrath of the crowd, believed to have injured him during squabbles at the offices.
This comes hours after Khalende declared himself the UDA secretary General to replace Malalah, who has been holding the position.
Khalende’s announcement
On Tuesday, Khalende announced that he was the acting Secretary General and that Malalah was barred from handling party affairs.
“Malala has abdicated his role and duty as the SG of the ruling party. The critical role of the SG of the UDA party is the spokesperson of the party; he communicates and initiates meetings on behalf of the party. Clearly, Malala has joined our opponents. He is supporting the TAWE movement and agendas which contradict the ruling party,” he stated.
“He has gone against our party leader…he is on the forefront against the formation of a broad-based government and I am here to confirm that he is no longer the SG of the UDA party. I Joe Khalende will be taking over as the SG of the UDA party.”
According to Khalende, the party had initiated the process to remove Malalah from office, insinuating that he had turned rogue.
“The conversation to kick out the notorious man has been ongoing within the party. All the party organs are aware and we are all in line. We issued a show-cause letter to Malala, but he has frustrated the process. The party has been doing massive grassroots recruitment and election, he has frustrated the process,” Khalende added.
Malalah has however denied reports that he has exited the ruling party, following a resignation letter circulation, which he termed as fake.
“Ignore propaganda. The party is stable and focused on helping President @WilliamsRuto achieve his agenda for Kenya. Chama iko Imara,” Malalah wrote.