Ruto Postpones UDA Party Elections To 2024

The party postponed the polls following a meeting held by the party's National Steering Committee.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Nov 18, 2023 - 13:24 Updated: Nov 18, 2023 - 13:43
0
Ruto Postpones UDA Party Elections To 2024
President William Ruto speaking while he presided over the inauguration of the Pending Bills Verification Committee on November 7, 2023. /PCS

President William Ruto has postponed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots elections to April 2024.

In a statement by UDA's Secretary-General Cleophas Malala, the party postponed the polls following a meeting held by the party's National Steering Committee.

The date of the elections has thus been moved from the initially scheduled December 9, 2023, and split into three clusters; April 12, 19 and 26, 2024 respectively.

President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua meet UDA party officials led by Cleophas Malala on November 18, 2023. /UDA

"Following a deliberative meeting of UDA's National Steering Committee chaired by the Party leader, H.E. President, William Samoei Ruto, PhD, CGH, the Party has resolved to postpone the scheduled December 9th elections to 12th, 19th and 26th April 2024 respectively.

"All candidates and members of the Party are encouraged to continue sensitizing and recruiting members to the Party," read the statement.

The postponement of the elections comes amidst internal party squabbles regarding supremacy battles pitting party officials against each other.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale on Monday, October 9 filed a petition at the UDA Disputes Resolutions Committee seeking to have Malala removed as the party's secretary general.

The senator sued Malala over the appointment of regional and county managers for the upcoming party grassroots elections.

He claimed that the appointments were made without evidence of consultations with other relevant party organs.

“That, pending the hearing and determination of the petition, the Honorable Committee be pleased to issue an injunction to restrain the Respondent, Cleophas Malala Wakhungu, from exercising the functions of the office of the Secretary General of the Interested Party, the United Democratic Alliance,” the petition read in part.

On Thursday, October 12, Malala shrugged off the tension purportedly building up within the ruling party ahead of its planned grassroots elections.

“I want to assure all our party members that this election is going to be free and fair, let them cast fears away that this election is going to be interfered with or it is going to have some level of favouritism in terms of implementation

“All candidates aspiring to be leaders in our party are going to have a free and fair election come December 9,” Malalah stated while inspecting the Bomas of Kenya where the party held the UDA National Women Congress the following day.

Malala has been facing opposition from notable leaders of the party including Senator Khalwale ahead of the UDA party elections set to be held countrywide to fill the party posts, including the prized ones of the party leader and deputy party leader.

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has also been opposing Malala and calling for his removal from the party, accusing him of favouritism and claiming he was being used by the opposition to destroy Kenya Kwanza from the inside.

From L-R: Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, President William Ruto, UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire and UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala during the launch of the UDA offices at Nyeri County on September 9, 2023. /PCS

Tags: