Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has petitioned the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Disputes Resolutions Committee to remove Cleophas Malala as the party’s secretary general.
In the petition, in which UDA was named as an interested party, the lawmaker accused Malala of abusing his position to exploit situations that would benefit him at the expense of the Petitioners and other party members.
He also accused him of usurping the powers and functions of the National Elections Board, the party’s only organ charged with dealing with internal party elections.
“The Petitioners will suffer irreparable personal loss and prejudice if the Honorable Committee does not intervene,” read the statement in part.
Khalwale lamented that the respondent had hired regional and county managers to oversee the upcoming grassroots elections on December 9, 2023.
The plaintiffs contended that the hiring decision was made without any evidence of consultation with other relevant organs of the party, such as the National Executive Committee and the National Elections Board.
“The Respondent overstepped his mandate and usurped the roles and mandate of the National Elections Board,” added the letter.
“By overstepping his mandate and usurping the mandate of the National Elections Board, it is quite clear that the Respondent is bent on compromising the process by appointing his cronies and friends as election management officials.”
As a result, Khalwale requested that the committee issue an injunction prohibiting Malala from performing the duties of the UDA secretary general.
Khalwale filed the petition with Walter Mkinginyi Trenk.
The petition comes just weeks after Malala and Khalwale clashed over the former’s directive to all UDA-allied parties to dissolve their organisations and join the ruling one.
“Those who joined us recently like Malala have much to do to prove themselves as legitimate UDA members. This is why he is keen on telling his former party ANC to fold but he should let Ford-Kenya be and concentrate on ANC if that will win him legitimacy and trust among UDA members,” lamented Khalwale at the time.
