UDA faces internal strife ahead of China trip next week

Fissures that threaten to tear the ruling UDA party apart have emerged ahead of the planned trip to China.

The trip, being sponsored by the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), will see a delegation led by Secretary General Cleophas Malala visit Beijing next week.

In what has caused a major disquiet within the party, officials are questioning the legitimacy of those nominated to accompany Malala.

Those who spoke to the Star allege favoritism and imposters in the list with alien names said to have been included.

"We are dismayed at the level of dishonesty witnessed in the party. Strange names are being imposed to important trips abroad while those that have worked for the party are left to lurk around," said a staff member who sought anonymity.

CPC has been in existence for over a century and UDA wants to learn from its lessons as it plans to attain 20 million members in two years.

Malala said in a past meeting that the Beijing trip is significant in their efforts to build a behemoth machine for Ruto’s reelection in 2027.

He said the benchmarking trip will also be an opportunity for the secretariat to build their capacities.

“We will not limit it to elected leaders and party officials only but also the members of the secretariat to build their capacities and become better people in the party’s affairs,” Malala said.

CPC officials have previously held a series of meetings at the UDA party offices in Nairobi.

The Beijing tour set for May 20, is borne of the these meetings.

The contentious list, the Star has established, comprises individuals categorised as an advisor, secretary and those from the accounts department.

However, when contacted for a comment, party's executive director Nicodemus Bore appeared to dispel the disquiet saying the list of those travelling will have to be approved by the National Steering Committee.

The meeting, he said, is set to be held either Thursday or Friday.

"We are waiting for chairman to convene the meeting. It is here where the names will be approved," he said.

A total of 15 individuals will be traveling and it includes elected leaders.

In a previous interview, UDA executive director Nicodemus Bore said priority during the trip will be a financial support of Sh1 billion from CPC to put up new offices to serve as the headquarters.

He said they have already identified some parcels of land in Nairobi where they intend to have the structure.

“At the moment, we do not have the design of the building, but we have an idea of how it should look like. Among the features is the school of leadership to train young party leaders,” Bore said.

Several agreements on areas of collaboration are also set to be signed during the meetings in Beijing.

The Beijing trip now adds to a litany of disgruntlement from staff who feel they have been sidelined.

Tension was rife last month when top party decision making organ convened to scrutinise the bloated payroll allegedly riddled with ghost workers.

It emerged that plans to conduct an incisive staff audit is underway to weed out non-existent staff and establish systems to cut back on wastage.