Mudavadi’s bid to expel Malala suffers big blow
Eric Wainaina and Enock Amukhale
Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi yesterday suffered a blow after the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP) rejected his bid to expel Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala.
On June 25, ANC’s national Governing Council approved the expulsion of Malala, who was been accused of disrespecting the party and is leadership and also for working with the leader of a rival party, Orange Democratic Movement’s Raila Odinga.
ANC’s disciplinary committee had in November last year suspended Malala over remarks he made at Kibra on October 27, 2019 during a by-election campaign, which the party leadership claimed prejudiced its integrity and reputation, its members and employees.
Malala had accompanied ODM leaders to campaign for their then candidate Imran Okoth during the campaigns, yet the party had its own candidate, Eliud Owalo, who the Senator was also accused of making derogatory and offending remarks against.
Mudavadi’s party, which has been experiencing tension from within, had communicated the ratification of the disciplinary committee’s decision to RPP for approval, a move which would have seen the vocal Senator lose his position.
But yesterday, acting RPP Ann Nderitu, rejected the invitation, saying ANC had not met the requisite requirements needed for his expulsion.
“This office acknowledges receipt of your letter dated 26 June, communicating the ANC National Governing Council’s resolution to expel Hon Cleophas Malala Wakhungu. Subsequent to the review of the submission on the expulsion of the said party member against the applicable laws including the ANC party Constitution, this office is unable to execute your request due to the process gaps,” Nderitu said in her letter to the party’s secretary general Barrack Muluka.
Second time
The gaps, according to Nderitu, include that the disciplinary proceedings were never concluded within the stipulated timelines under the party’s Constitution and that the NGC did not approve the Disciplinary Committee as reconstituted by NEC in line with the party’s regulation.
This is the second time the party is trying to kick out a member over claims of gross misconduct after it failed to eject nominated MP George Osotsi, who appears to lean towards Raila, and who it suspended in May last year, but the lawmaker got a reprieve from the court.
The party leadership accused Osotsi of misusing the party’s funds at the time he served as its Secretary-General ahead of the 2017 General Election.
The party has been facing turbulence with Musalia’s stay at its helm facing uncertainty after some unhappy members kicked off a process that could lead to his removal as the party leader.
A petition already has been sent to RPP seeking among other things, demand election of party officials in a move that could see Musalia forced to defend his position and have the NEC, which is reportedly allied to him replaced.
