Political tension is escalating in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as several leaders supportive of President William Ruto have given Secretary General Hassan Omar a 48-hour ultimatum to resign over recent contentious statements.
Leaders from the Mount Kenya region have warned they will activate the party’s disciplinary procedures to force Omar out if he doesn’t step down voluntarily.
Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a and Kiambaa MP John Njuguna Kawanjiku spearheaded the group, asserting that Omar’s recent comments about the Mount Kenya region were excessively inflammatory and that his apology was not genuine.
“As party leaders, we insist Hassan Omar must immediately and unconditionally resign as UDA Secretary General,” the MPs stated collectively.
“If he refuses to submit his resignation within the 48-hour deadline, we will submit a collective petition to our party leader to utilize party structures for his removal.”
Omar sparked controversy last week during President Ruto’s coastal tour, when he allegedly attributed the nationwide matatu strike to a specific region.
The Secretary General has subsequently offered a public apology, though his political rivals remain unconvinced.
At a press conference held on May 27, the UDA leaders endorsed the National Cohesion and Integration Commission’s investigation into Omar, calling for thorough examination of the issue.
“We fully back the NCIC investigation and request that criminal proceedings for hate speech and incitement be carried through to their completion,” the statement continued.