- Malala declared his departure from Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC and announced a one-party dream to be used by President William Ruto in his 2027 re-election.
- Benard Shinali of Ikolomani wondered why Malala wanted ANC dissolved, yet it is the party that brought him into the limelight.
Image: CALISTUS LUCHETU
Leaders from across the political divide in Kakamega have castigated UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala over his call to have Kenya Kwanza coalition parties fold into one strong outfit.
Days after being appointed UDA secretary general, Malala declared his departure from Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC and announced a one-party push for President William Ruto's 2027 re-election bid.
The former Kakamega senator set an August deadline for Kenya Kwanza affiliates to fold.
However, on Sunday, leaders, led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula denounced Malala’s push.
They spoke during a fundraiser at St Patrick’s Sisokhe Catholic Church in Navakholo constituency, where Wetang'ula was the guest of honour.
Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana, who led the onslaught, said the country cannot be taken back to the dark day of the Kanu one-party system after making great constitutional strides in the multi-party era.
“I want to tell my brother Malala, to whom I have a lot of respect, that he should take note of the proverbial days where some friends agreed to go and kill their mothers and after doing so, they realised that one of them had spared his own mother,” Ikana said.
The ANC legislator said Western region leaders had pledged to work with President William Ruto's government but they will support him while in their respective parties.
“We shall not be intimidated by a young man who is over excited by the position he has just landed. We shall only wait for direction from Musalia Mudavadi of ANC and Moses Wetang’ula of Ford-Kenya," he said.
"Meanwhile, we shall continue strengthening our ANC and Ford-K parties so that come 2032, we, as a community, will produce a leader who will take over from President Ruto .”
Malava MP Malulu Injendi said the idea of folding ANC and Ford-K was in itself disrespect to Musalia and Wetang’ula, saying the two leaders have done a lot for the country in terms of political development.
“I want to say that the President is not in what Malala is doing at all. Malala’s intention is to edge our two leaders out of the high table of the President,” Injendi said.
Benard Shinali of Ikolomani wondered why Malala wanted ANC dissolved, yet it is the party that brought him into the limelight.
“You cannot visit your neighbours’ home and make yourself comfortable there. Malala should know that ANC was his home and should not destroy it. Even a hen goes out to find food but returns home to lay eggs,” Shinali said
Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, who is the DAP-K deputy party leader reiterated that the Constitution was clear that Kenya shall be a multi-party state and folding parties shall be taking the country back in history. Savula said parties give negotiating strength to its leaders in any coalition.
“Moses Wetang’ula went to the Kenya Kwanza negotiating table through the Ford Kenya party and he is a partner because of that party. Telling him to dissolve his party will render him a follower in the coalition and not a partner. Therefore, folding of affiliate parties in this country is ill-advised and should not be allowed,” he said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday said the call for folding affiliate parties was Malala's idea of strengthening UDA but not the official position of the party.