Former Kakamega senator, Cleophas Malala, on March 14, warned Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties of dire consequences should they decline to fold and join United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Malala, UDA's secretary general, argued that Amani National Congress, led by Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi and Speaker Moses Wetangula's Ford Kenya, would not be coerced to fold.
However, they would be subjected to any competitive exercises within the party, such as the nomination of National Assembly and Senate speakers.
With a mass following, the implication was that UDA will defeat affiliate parties' candidates in such exercises.
"If they feel they wouldn't want to fold, then it is okay with us. We want to let them understand that a saw cuts both sides. Some people only want a saw to cut to the front rather than the front and rear.
"When we want to nominate a speaker, all parties will select a candidate. Let us not only apply some policies selectively - like in the grassroots and not at the national level," Malala chided.
Using Irungu Nyakera's Farmers Party as an analogy, Malala noted that his role as SG was to strengthen UDA and invite parties to fold and join them.
"Farmers Party had over 49,000 registered members, according to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP). These members are now members of UDA giving the party a boost in membership," he argued.
Malala extolled the benefits of Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties joining UDA, which he averred, was the face of Kenya.
“If you have a small party with four or five members from one region, how will you be the president of Kenya?” he wondered, in a thinly veiled attack at Musalia and Wetangula.
His remarks came days after ANC and Ford Kenya opposed the clamour to fold their parties.
On March 10, 2023, ANC Kakamega branch officials, including acting CEO Benson Abuyabo, stated that ANC would not bow to pressure.
Former ANC Party chairman Julias Arunga added, “We are still solid as a party and have no intentions whatsoever to join or merge with any other party. ANC is still intact and whatever Malala said was a personal opinion."
Meanwhile, on Friday, March 3, Malala castigated Mudavadi for being a Cabinet Member in a ruling coalition but under a different party.
"You cannot be in Cabinet and still belong to another political party. That is contempt to our President. All parties in Kenya Kwanza must dissolve," Malala indicated, while also warning Alfred Mutua of Maendeleo Chap Chap and ex-officio member of the Cabinet, Attorney General Justin Muturi of the Democratic Party.
The clamour to fold Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties began immediately Malala was appointed secretary general on Monday, February 27. The former Kakamega senator argued that President William Ruto tasked him with the role, in efforts to strengthen UDA.
