Top UDA NEC member Panyako faults Malala ouster as SG, says it’s illegal
Vocal United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party leader Seth Panyako has termed the removal of Cleophas Malala as the party’s Secretary General early on Friday, August 2 was unprocedural and illegal.
According to the fierce politician, there was no formal invitation to the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) officials, where he is a member, for them to subject the embattled SG to laid down procedures to ascertain accusations levelled against the SG.
“As a NEC member I believe it was unprocedural, I have not been invited in any of the purported NEC meeting where he was subjected to a disciplinary process of any offense alleged against him.However, that does not mean I support his conduct,” said Panyako.
In the early morning decision, Hassan Omar, the EALA MP representative, was appointed to take over the SG’s office in an interim capacity following a meeting chaired by party chairperson Cecily Mbarire at the party’s offices in Nairobi.
Panyako added that while he does not support the conduct of Malala, the rule of law, natural justice and constitutionalism dictates that every individual has a right to be heard before action against them is taken and that as a party, they have failed to adhere to it.
” The rule of law, natural justice and constitutionalism dictates that every person has a right to be heard,” Panyako told Mulembe News.
Malala’s ouster comes just days after he hosted a meeting in Kakamega town that was given a wide berth by the western elected leaders who had earlier indicated attendance among them Lugari Member of Parliament Nabii Nabwera and his Likuyani counterpart Innocent Mugabe in which it was meant to push the western region agenda in the president William Ruto’s administration.
Malala had earlier moved to court to stop the meeting from taking place saying it was unprocedural.
Kakamega Senator Dr Boni Khalwale was one of the leaders who was fast in celebrating his kin’s fate.
Khalwale and Malala have both declared interest in seeking for the Kakamega Gubernatorial seat in 2027 elections.
