Cleophas Malala, Secretary General of the UDA Party, has responded to criticism directed at him by Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi for a previous warning to respect the party leadership and the presidency.
Malala issued a warning on Wednesday to Sudi and other party leaders, including two Cabinet Secretaries, to refrain from publicly demeaning party officials, particularly Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto.
Sudi then responded by referring to his party’s secretary general as a “Elevated MCA suffering from illusory superiority, thinking he matches Raphael Tuju’s calibre.”
Speaking with Citizen TV on Thursday, Malala insisted that the statement posted on Sudi’s social media platform X was from his communications team, not the politician himself.
He contended that MP Sudi, a close associate of Ruto, is a respectable politician who cannot hurl insults at other leaders.
“When I saw that tweet I laughed it off because I knew it was not him who wrote it. I would urge him to communicate with his communications team which is handling his Twitter account to seek his approval before posting anything on his account,” he said.
“I am certain MP Sudi is a respectable leader and he is my friend. It is not him who tweeted that tweet I know his handwriting. I would urge all those MCAs who felt belittled to understand that it was not Sudi who tweeted that.”
Malala has been under fire for the last 24 hours from those he mentioned in his warning statement. Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga responded by saying that Malala is insignificant in the UDA party and should be kicked out as soon as possible.
“Ag SG Malala in UDA is like a square peg in a round hole. He doesn’t fit. I have said it before and I repeat, we must get rid of him in the coming UDA elections,” stated Kahiga.
The tussle comes amid speculations that there is a fallout between the president and his deputy, exposing the cracks within the party.
This has seen MP Sudi and DP Gachagua openly clashing in different public functions after Gachagua warned young politicians he said are close to President William Ruto from the Rift Valley against disrespecting him and the people of Mt. Kenya.
