UDA Cancels Meeting In Mombasa After Chaos Between Mohammed Ali & MP [VIDEO]

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party cancelled its meeting in Mombasa prematurely on Saturday, June 24 after chaos ensued following a misunderstanding between two rival groups.

The duelling factions behind Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar collided, forcing intervention from law enforcement agencies to disperse them before the chaos worsened into a crisis.

Both leaders had arrived with their supporters to attend the meeting organised by UDA Secretary General, Cleophas Malala, with reports alleging that the two leaders were whisked away to safety amidst the chaos.

Malala confirmed that the two factions were led by Ali and Omar, who is the UDA vice chairperson and East Africa Legislative Assembly MP.

UDA supporters crowded in chaos at a hall on June 24, 2023. /FILE

"We arrived and found two factions fighting over leadership. As a party, we advocate for democracy. Let everyone campaign and bring people to the party," Malala urged the duo to reconcile their differences. 

"However, as a party, we will be neutral in picking regional leaders. During grassroots elections, we shall look at who registered more members to join UDA," he insisted.

He however condemned both leaders, asking them to respect UDA party principles and vowed to convene a meeting to address the power wrangles pitting the Nyali MP and Omar.

Ali had accused Omar of masterminding sabotage against his side, claiming that Omar was leveraging his post to pursue his interests.

He added that the former senator holds the position on an interim basis and would soon be weeded out after the oncoming party polls in August.

Besides the delegates' conference, UDA had planned to undertake massive grassroots party recruitment.

The two, in separate functions last week bashed each other bragging rights over the party’s performance in the 2022 general elections where President William Ruto garnered 44 per cent of the votes cast for the presidential election.

“I am the one with the 44 per cent of Mombasa votes through the UDA party. Let no one deceive you they are the ones who brought the votes,” said Omar.

Speaking during the launch and empowerment of the Mombasa Links Limited, a business organization by former UDA aspirants from Mombasa on Saturday, June 17, Omar accused Ali of undermining his efforts to empower the Mombasa people.

“I have been striving to empower our people and others are bringing their hatred, who has stopped them from empowering the people, go on and do your empowerment if you want to," he lashed out.

“If I am able to call the president and ask him to do us a favor, you can also call in for other favors for our people, that is common sense. At the end of the day, it is our people benefiting, you can’t be constantly abusing me and sending people to abuse me, come slowly my friend,” Omar added.

MP Ali in a rejoinder however alleged that money issued as empowerment kitty was meant for the 2022 campaign that he stashed causing the UDA party to lose seats in Mombasa.

Out of the 30 MCA seats in Mombasa, UDA managed only four with Ali becoming the only UDA MP in Mombasa out of the six constituencies.

Here is the video:

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party's delegates conference in Mombasa ends prematurely after a misunderstanding between rival factions behind Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar pic.twitter.com/dsecALIVlG — Marvin Chege (@marvin_chege10) June 24, 2023