Chaos ensued at a United Democratic Movement (UDA) meeting in Mombasa on Saturday, June 24, after rival groups battled to control the party's regional offices.
The meeting was cut short after both leaders arrived with their supporters to participate in the grassroots mobilisation exercise organised by UDA Secretary General, Cleophas Malala.
Security officers were forced to intervene to disperse the rival groups before the chaos escalated. Reports alleged that notable leaders at the event were whisked away to safety as the two crowds clashed.
After calm was restored, Malala confirmed that the clashing factions strode to the meeting in the company of Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and his East Africa Legislative Assembly counterpart, Hassan Omar. The latter also serves as the UDA vice chairperson.
"We arrived and found two factions fighting over leadership. As a party, we advocate for democracy. Let everyone campaign and bring people to the party," Malala urged the duo to reconcile their differences.
"However, as a party we will be neutral in picking regional leaders. During grassroots elections, we shall look at who registered more members to join UDA," he insisted.
He, however, condemned both leaders, asking them to respect UDA party principles and ideologies. Malala vowed to convene a meeting to address the power wrangles pitting Mohamed, a former investigative journalist, and Hassan Omar, who served as Mombasa senator from 2013 to 2017.
On Saturday, June 3, the UDA Secretary General encountered a hostile crowd in Marsabit County during a grassroots mobilisation exercise.
Leadership wrangles between two rival groups also necessitated the chaos. However, a contingent of police officers was deployed to restore calm to the event.
Malala was later jeered by the youth forcing the meeting to end prematurely.
"Kindly move away in respect of this meeting. We know you Marsabit people are peaceful people," Malala pleaded with the residents.
"I beg Marsabit leaders, don't fight one another because the people already elected you. As the Party Secretary General, I will be neutral. This issue of shouting will not help any candidate," he added as the jeers overshadowed his pleas.
President William Ruto, UDA party leader, has yet to respond to the chaos that has disrupted the grassroots mobilisation exercise. UDA embarked on nationwide campaigns to bolster their numbers ahead of the 2027 General Election.
