Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

- Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has trolled Embu governor and UDA chairperson Cecily Mbarire over he trouble with the Kenya Kwanza government.

During her Madaraka Day speech on Sunday, June 1, Mbariri decried alleged interference and disrespect by senior national government officials.

However, in a tweet, Khalwale suggested that the tribulations that the Embu governor was facing in the ruling party were not new.

The Senate Majority Whip recalled how Mbarire and Cleophas Malala were assigned senior positions just to get rid of him and the former chairperson, Johnson Muthama.

"Out of the blues, Gov Cecil Mbarire was elevated to the National Chairman & Cleophas Malala was plucked from the ANC Party, becoming the Secretary General of UDA party. Ostensibly, this was to get rid of Sen Muthama and teach Dr Boni Khalwale a lesson, both of whom were founder members of the UDA Party," Khalwale said.

Khalwale cheekily told Mbarire not to cry over the alleged mistreatment, arguing that that is the true colours of the President William Ruto-led party.

"The UDA party is now in a spin! Gov Mbarire, hivyo ndo inaendanga. Don't cry, just move on," he stated.

At Makima Primary School grounds, Mbarire, who also chairs the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, accused senior national government officials from Nairobi of plotting against her and other elected leaders in Embu county.

The outspoken governor claimed the tensions arose from secret night meetings held in the county by unnamed senior officials, aimed at creating divisions among local leaders.

Mbarire affirmed her loyalty to UDA and President William Ruto, even throughout the challenging campaign period before the closely contested 2022 General Election.

She warned the unnamed officials to stop undermining her leadership, adding that she would not hesitate to expose them if the intimidation continued.

The governor also stressed her authority as an elected leader, reminding the officials that she deserved the same respect she showed them.

As reported earlier, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki criticised Mbarire for not defending President Ruto from heckling during a previous visit to Embu.

He questioned her dedication, stating that a party leader should not be embarrassed in their own county, and suggested that this failure raised doubts about her position in UDA leadership.

His comments came amid internal tensions within the party, just months after former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua was impeached and UDA merged with Musalia Mudavadi's Amani National Congress (ANC).

Source: TUKO.co.ke