UDA Party Secretary General Cleophas Malala criticized his Jubilee counterpart, Jeremiah Kioni, following a heated clash that occurred during bipartisan discussions between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja. The altercation, reportedly triggered by Kioni’s statement suggesting the talks were bound to fail, led to UDA’s Vice-Chairperson Hassan Omar engaging in a confrontation with him on Thursday.
On Friday, Kioni defended his unwavering stance that the primary focus of the talks should be addressing the high cost of living for Kenyans, saying, “I wouldn’t want to sit in a situation where I feel like we are conning Kenyans. That’s why people were demonstrating.”
However, in Narok, where he inaugurated new UDA offices in the county, Malala responded by criticizing Kioni for resorting to violence rather than presenting his ideas intellectually. He stated, “Kioni wakes up saying these talks are pointless and he wants to engage in physical fights during the discussions. Please refrain from violence and physical confrontations. If you have ideas, challenge us with them intellectually.”
Malala warned Kioni against attempting to engage in physical altercations during such meetings, emphasizing the need for respect towards the Vice-Chairperson of UDA.
Furthermore, Malala assured that the ruling Kenya Kwanza government fully supports the ongoing bipartisan talks and refuted reports of a leadership rift within Kenya Kwanza, affirming unity among key figures within the party. He stated, “We want to assure Kenyans and our supporters that Kenya Kwanza is intact. Deputy President Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and Speaker Moses Wetangula have no issues. Kenya Kwanza is united.”