The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party is set to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Friday, August 2, 2024, following chaos that rocked its headquarters.
In a statement on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, UDA chairperson and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire said the Friday meeting would be crucial in coming up with decisions that would guide the party going forward.
“I wish to announce that we are going to have a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Friday (August 2, 2024), and it’s an emergency meeting to resolve the matters that have emerged in the party since yesterday,” Mbarire said.
She added: “I wish to assure our members that as the NEC we shall make sure we resolve those matters in a fair and the best way possible and the party will be back on its feet and that we will not allow what we’ve seen happen to continue.”
UDA to resolve standoff
The meeting comes after a self-proclaimed UDA Secretary-General, Joe Khalende, stormed the party headquarters along Ngong Road and accused the party’s Secretary-General, Cleophas Malalah, of going against the party’s code of conduct by supporting other political outfits through the newly formed Mulembe People’s Assembly.
Khalende threatened to take over the party’s Secretary-General’s position, and a confrontation ensued between him and the goons in support of Malala. In the melee, Khalende was badly hurt.
“There are some goons who have been brought to wreak havoc here at the party. We condemn the actions and reiterate that we will not allow our party to operate that way. UDA is a peaceful party, and we have never experienced what happened here today,” Mbarire noted.
She said that the Friday meeting would take the matter seriously and that appropriate actions would be taken against members who participated in the confrontations.
“Be rest assured that we have taken this matter very seriously, and we will take necessary actions on Friday after the NEC meeting, and we will be able to announce to our members and the public the decisions of the NEC because that is where the decisions are made,” Mbarire added.
Khalende says he is one of the founding members of the UDA party and that the UDA party had initially initiated disciplinary actions against Malalah, but he had frustrated the process.
However, Malalah allayed fears of his ouster, stating that the UDA party was strong and intact.
“Ignore propaganda. The party is stable and focused on helping President William Ruto achieve his agenda for Kenya. Chama iko Imara,” Malalah wrote.