Why Khalwale wants Malala out of UDA Secretary General office

Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale is among petitioners seeking to oust United Democtratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General, Cleophas Malala from office.

The bull fighter as the vocal Senator is known in political circles and another petitioner by name Walter Trenk, has filed a petition at the UDA party disputes resolution committee, pushing for removal of Malala from office.

They accuse Malala of usurping the authority and duties of the party’s National Elections Board, through his reported move to appoint county and regional administrators to oversee grassroots elections set for December 9th, 2023.

“The respondent overstepped his mandate and usurped the roles and mandate of the National Elections Board. The Petitioners will suffer irreparable personal loss and prejudice if the Honorable Committee does not intervene,” the two petitioners say in their petition.

“By overstepping his mandate and usurping the mandate of the National Elections Board, it is quite clear that the respondent is bent on compromising the process by appointing his cronies and friends as election management officials,” they argued.

They maintain that Malala only appointed his cronies.

“Some of the appointees such as the ones for the Western Region, Nairobi and Vihiga were based on the previous relationship between the respondent and the appointees."

They want the committee to impose an order prohibiting Malala from performing duties vested on the offiice of Secretary General.

Additionally, they asked the committee to issue an order prohibiting anyone who formerly held executive roles, from performing any obligations to the party other than those that are absolutely necessary, such providing financial facilitation.

Malala and Khalwale have on most occassions been at logger heads, since the former was granted a chance to vie for the Kakamega county gubernatorial seat under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance in 2022.

He lost to Fernandes Barasa before being appointed UDA Secretary General.

The bull fighter wanted to vie for the gubernatorial seat, before settling for the Senatorial race.