Intrigues as Sakaja-allied MCAs fight for control of City Hall

Supremacy battles have for the past week rocked the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party as two factions seek control of the Nairobi County Assembly.

The battle has pitted allies of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja led by Minority Leader Antony Kiragu Waithaka against MCAs led by South B ward rep Waithera Chege who are pushing for changes in UDA party leadership at City Hall.

The wrangles have lifted the lid on backroom wars at the ruling party that have been marred with claims of bribery, backstabbing and jostling for key posts ahead of UDA's grassroots elections slated for December as well as the 2027 polls.

The intrigues began last week during a meeting that brought together UDA MCAs who discussed leadership changes.

During the meeting, the ward reps are said to have agreed to oust the current Minority leadership led by Kiragu and Minority Whip Mark Mugambi.

The changes were effected after 35 out of the 52 UDA MCAs appended their signatures in support of the leadership change.

The storm erupted on Monday this week after party Secretary-General Cleophas Malala in a communication confirmed the changes which confirmed Waithera Chege as Kiragu's replacement as Minority Whip.

UDA Party Secretary General during the National Women Congress at Bomas, Nairobi on October 13, 2023. (Photo: X/Cleophas Malala)

In the letter, Malala also confirmed the appointment of Nominated MCA Joyce Muthoni who replaced Mugambi as the Minority Whip.

Other changes saw Githurai MCA Deonysias Mwangi become Chege's deputy and Clay MCA Samora Mwaura as Muthoni's deputy.

Accusations

Kiragu and Mugambi were accused of failing to unite members and failing to pursue the Kenya Kwanza agenda at the assembly.

One of the city MCAs who sought anonymity accused the minority leadership of 'going to bed' with the Executive at City Hall.

"The leaders who we elected lack integrity. They have been pocketed by the governor and hence can no longer perform their role of oversight," one of the MCAs who sought anonymity told the Eastleigh Voice.

The ward rep also pointed an accusing finger at the current leadership which he claimed had bribed the MCAs after last week's meeting to where they claimed that their signatures were forged and they were not supporting the ouster of Kiragu and Mugambi.

"They called some of the MCAs who had already signed the affidavits urging the party to remove the two leaders. He called them and gave them some money to recant and say they did not append their signatures," the MCA alleged.

Hours after Malala's communication, the two factions held parallel press conferences as each lay claim to the House leadership further fuelling the crisis within the ruling party ahead of the resumption of the assembly sittings next week on Tuesday.

A section of UDA Nairobi MCAs led by Waithera Chege and Joyce Muthoni addressing the media at the assembly grounds on October 23, 2023. (Photo: The Star)

"The UDA party has played its part and therefore, I call upon the speaker to play his part and ensure that the communication is formalised by conveying the same to the plenary as soon as possible because Nairobians cannot wait to be served better," Muthoni said.

Sakaja ouster claims

However, in a quick rejoinder, the ousted leaders stormed the UDA offices demanding an audience with Malala alleging that the signatures used to kick them out were forged.

"There was no voting. There were no consultations and we are not in agreement. The allegations that have been leveled against the current leadership are petty and false," Kiragu said on Monday.

Kiragu and Mugambi alleged the hand of a powerful official of the party whom they claim is frustrating their efforts due to their allegiance to Governor Sakaja whom they hinted was on the impeachment radar.

"Personally, I have had two invitations from very senior members of the government...my bosses...somewhere in Karen. They have invited me twice and asked me to start a battlefront for Governor Sakaja for undisclosed reasons," Kiragu claimed.

"They are chest-thumping that once they are done with us, they will start the process of impeaching the governor," Mugambi alleged.

The rising tensions prompted Malala to call for a crisis meeting on Thursday this week aimed at stemming further fallout and seeking common ground.

The Secretary-General announced the status quo will remain until the meeting, adding that the party will remain neutral amid calls for change in the party leadership at City Hall.

“We shall meet to establish who is in support of this motion and who is not. As a secretariat we will be fair; if the signatures are presented to support the bid, even if the leaders involved are my friends, I will not hesitate to let them go,” Malala said.

“I will go with the majority’s decision… as for the issue of the minority leader, we shall still follow the law which says the speaker must first communicate. That has not happened yet and until then, the people in question maintain their positions.”

A section of UDA Nairobi MCAs led by Mark Mugambi and Antony Kiragu addressing the media at the assembly grounds on October 23, 2023. (Photo: The Star)

On Tuesday, the leadership saga took a new twist after the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) barred the party from making any leadership changes.

Court orders

PPDT chairperson Desma Nungo gave the orders barring UDA from making any changes until a hearing and determination are done.

"Pending the inter-partes hearing and determination of this Application, this Honourable Tribunal hereby issues an interim order restraining the 2nd Respondent from enforcing and/or affecting the decision of the 1st Respondent to remove the Complainants/Applicants as the Minority Leader and the Minority Chief Whip of the 1st Respondent," Nungo said.

The notice of the motion application was listed for mention on November 7, 2023.

The order threw the meeting called by Malala on Thursday into disarray after the camp led by South B MCA Waithera Chege and Nominated MCA Joyce Muthoni vowed not to attend despite the party Secretary-General insisting it was still on.

Through a letter addressed to Malala on Wednesday, Muthoni noted that the changes announced by the Secretary-General on Monday ought to be respected.

"It has come to my attention that you intend to call another meeting to 'resolve the issue' and possibly backtrack on the aforementioned changes. Given that the matter is already under consideration by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal, any such meeting would be in violation of the sub judice rule," Muthoni said.

"It is a fundamental principle that we refrain from discussing ongoing cases outside the proper channel, to ensure fairness and the integrity of the adjudication process."

Muthoni's letter was signed by 26 UDA MPs.