Editor's Review

The 2032 succession battle pitting Gachagua and Mudavadi was also linked to the decision to postpone the polls.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala on Sunday, December 3 cleared speculations on why the ruling party postponed the grassroots elections scheduled for December this year. 

Speaking in Nakuru during the regional office opening, the former Kakamega Senator revealed that UDA called off the polls to give room for negotiations to allow Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties to fold.

The affiliate parties in Kenya Kwanza include the Amani National Congress (ANC) led by Chief Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD–Kenya) led by the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula. 

Defending the push for the folding of affiliate parties, Malala noted that the decision would strengthen UDA ahead of the 2027 polls.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala

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"We want Kenya to have strong political parties and that is why we are urging our sister parties within the Kenya Kwanza family to consider folding their parties," Malala stated.

"That is the reason why we postponed our elections to April to allow our brothers to fold up their parties so that they can come and participate in our elections," he added.

The decision by UDA’s National Steering Committee chaired by the Party leader President William Ruto to postpone the grassroots elections to the 12th, 19th, and 26th of April 2024, respectively, caused a storm. A section of political pundits linked the decision to the alleged rift and demands issued by the leaders.

Mt Kenya leaders for instance demanded top leadership positions in the party including the Secretary General Post and Deputy Party leader.

The 2032 succession politics between Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Mudavadi was also linked to the decision to postpone the polls.

However, Gachagua dismissed the speculations insisting that he was focused on helping President Ruto deliver on his campaign promises.

“I have been hearing that some of our leaders have lost their way, talking about the 2032 general elections. Those people are lost. We are only one year in office, how can we discuss 2032; even 2027 is a premature debate,” he remarked.