By Antynet Ford
Cracks in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) are continuing to deepen with a recent clash involving the party’s secretary general Cleophas Malala and the National Elections Board chairperson Anthony Mwaura.
Mwaura and Malala openly clashed over grassroot elections for West Pokot which are scheduled for today.
Yesterday, Malala ordered for the postponement of the elections after a complaint filed last week and a ruling by the Electoral and Nomination Disputes Committee.
In his statement l, the SG ordered the National Elections Board for UDA to postpone the elections until further notice when the hearing and ruling of filed complains will be made.
“This communication addresses the complaint filed on 21st May 2024 concerning the aforementioned elections. The complainant’s complaint dated 21st May 2024 discloses weighty issues. The Ruling on the complaint is hereby deferred for the next seven days. The Respondent (National Elections Board) is hereby ordered not to conduct any further elections in the affected constituencies until the committee delivers its ruling.” Malala said in his statement.
“In adherence to the UDA Party constitution and to respect the integrity of the party’s organs we hereby postpone the planned constituency elections in the affected constituencies to a later date that will be communicated by the National Elections Board.” He added.
However, minutes after the statement,the Electoral and Nomination Disputes Resolution Committee vice chairperson Adrian Kamotho denied the communication by Malala saying that the party had not made such a decision.
“Our attention is drawn to a public notice issued by the acting Secretary General of the UDA party purporting to reference an Order of the Electoral and Nomination Disputes Resolution Committee (ENDRC). The referenced Order is FAKE and the same did not emanate from the ENDRC.” Kamotho said.
This was also followed by UDA’s NEB chairperson Anthony Mwaura who told off Malala,stating that the SG had no mandate to handle election affairs of the party.
“Reference is made to a Notice by the acting Secretary General purporting to postpone the ongoing elections in West Pokot County. Article 21 of the UDA constitution establishes the National Elections Board as an independent organ of the Party that must act independently of any direction from anybody or any party organ.” The chairman stated.
“Resultantly, any notice purporting to address election matters is unlawful, without basis and is therefore null and void. For greater certainty, this position was clarified by the Political Parties and Disputes Tribunal in Complaint 23 of 2023, Walter Trenk & Another Vs. Cleophas Malala.” He claimed.
A ruling by the Political Parties and Disputes Tribunal quoted by Mwaura, states that “the National Elections Board is the only organ of the Interested Party (UDA )mandated to plan, organize, direct and coordinate internal party elections, and therefore make announcements related to the preparations for the forthcoming grassroots elections”.
The chairman directed that the elections in West Pokot go on as earlier announced.
“The UDA party will carry on with ALL the Constituency level elections scheduled to take place tomorrow the 31/5/2024, in compliance with the earlier notice. ” He stated.