Mudavadi: Discipline needed in UDF

Nominated UDF MCA, Nathan Kamidi, addressing the press at Sosa hotel. HE said that Mudavadi could not claim to oust him from the party when he had failed to iron out issues in the party at his home turf. PHOTO: ERIC LUNGAI/STANDARD

Kakamega; Kenya: Amani Coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi has defended the instilling of discipline in political parties, terming it as a lawful process.

He said parties that take disciplinary action against their wayward members should not be thought to be intolerant.

Speaking to The Standard, the United Democratic Forum (UDF) party leader said the hiccups at UDF are normal and will be resolved.

"There are those of us who want to reform the party and prepare it for the next elections while others want the status quo maintained, including officials staying in office without facing elections. They are under the illusion that officials own parties. The pro-change and anti-change agents are on opposing sides," he said.

Mr Mudavadi said the constitution and the Political Parties Act gives members a final say on party matters, which some officials refuse to accept.

PARTY GROWTH

He insisted UDF will only grow once it includes and embraces members' divergent voices in decision-making.

"You cannot deny MPs and MCAs a say in party decisions yet they constitute the majority of officials and belong to recognised party organs. The days when an individual or group owned parties are over," he said.

Mudavadi said some actions by elected and nominated members indicate they have voluntarily and publicly resigned from UDF.

He said the law is clear that any member of a political party who in any way or manner publicly advocates and promotes the interests and policies of another political party is deemed to have resigned from his party.

Mudavadi decried selective condemnation of UDF disciplinary measures while condoning the same in other parties, saying this shows that a reformed UDF is viewed as a threat by many.

This comes after UDF ejected three of its members over alleged misconduct.