Exclusive: Malala to be Gachagua’s new party SG

By Newsflash Reporter

Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala is set to be the Secretary-General of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s new political party, set to be unveiled in May.

Newsflash has exclusively obtained details of a high-stakes political meeting between Gachagua and Malala, who is also the former UDA Secretary-Genera, held behind closed doors on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

The meeting, Newsflash has also learnt, was strategic move by Gachagua to mount a more aggressive campaign against President William Ruto and his allies.

According to sources privy to the meeting, Gachagua and Malala convened at a private residence in Karen, where they charted out the next phase of what appears to be a coordinated political salvo against Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza regime.

The main agenda: laying the groundwork for the new political outfit that Gachagua will use to launch his presidential bid in 2027—and where Malala is expected to play a central role.

Malala’s fall from UDA came after months of internal feuds, mostly triggered by his open loyalty to Gachagua amid increasing tensions with Ruto.

Inside sources told Newsflash that Gachagua’s party is a vehicle designed to consolidate Mt Kenya support and attract disillusioned factions from within Kenya Kwanza.

Turning outrage into opportunity

A major point of discussion during the meeting was how to capitalize on the national outrage sparked by the controversial stage play Echoes of War, which depicted graphic scenes of political violence and was widely interpreted as a critique of state-sponsored brutality.

The play, which has since gone viral, has struck a nerve across the country and provided the opposition with a unique opening to challenge the government’s record on human rights and corruption.

“The mood in the room was clear—this is no longer about internal disagreements; it’s about building an alternative voice for Kenyans who feel betrayed,” a source in the meeting told Newsflash. “Malala will be the face of this movement, and Echoes of War has given them the emotional momentum they need.”

Gachagua and Malala are said to be formulating a plan to position Malala as the political face of this growing dissent—using the emotional weight of the play to catapult him into national limelight.

The idea, insiders say, is to frame Malala as a youth-focused reformer standing against a corrupt and oppressive regime. This move not only rehabilitates Malala’s political image after his ejection from UDA but also gives Gachagua a proxy through which he can continue agitating without appearing too directly confrontational.

‘Government is scared’

“The government is running scared,” said an aide close to Malala. “They know the Ruto administration has lost the moral high ground. Gachagua’s revelations on national TV were just the beginning.”

Another key strategy discussed was the need to keep Ruto and his allies on the defensive by perpetuating an anti-government narrative that builds on Gachagua’s explosive interview with KTN last week.

During that interview, Gachagua accused Ruto of striking illicit deals with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Sudan, led by controversial commander Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), and exposed a murky fertilizer donation deal involving Russia.

“The Deputy President has opened a Pandora’s box,” a political strategist aligned with Gachagua said. “The RSF and Russian fertilizer scandals are only the tip of the iceberg. The public wants answers, and this new alliance will demand them loudly and consistently.”

The two leaders reportedly explored ways the opposition can keep public momentum alive following the Echoes of War controversy.

Among the ideas floated include a national tour to highlight government failures, grassroots forums to amplify citizen grievances, and alliances with civil society groups to create a broader anti-government coalition.

Malala, with his energetic style and youthful appeal, is expected to lead these efforts.