Nairobi — National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei has blamed United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala over the recent mayhem that occurred during the UDA delegates meeting.

Speaking at KTN on Monday, Shollei said in the past years, there was no single UDA meeting that was violent.

"My personal opinion as a UDA member is that I am disappointed with the performance of Cleophas Malala. He has been going on the UDA membership drive and many have been violent," she said.

"I enquired from some of the UDA members and since we started the party, we recruited people in a record under a year. At that time, there was not a single UDA meeting that was violent."

Shollei questioned whether Malala was attempting to damage the UDA party, claiming that the group had no history of violence.

She continued saying that "I think I am going to talk to UDA members as we begin to ask ourselves whether this person is trying to destroy our party. The other day he was in Marsabit, there was violence. He went to Isiolo, there was violence. He went to Mombasa and there was violence."

On Saturday 24th, Malala was forced to end the UDA delegates meeting in Mombasa after supporters of Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and EALA MP Hassan Omar clashed.

The gathering, which took place at the Government Training Institute (GTI) Mombasa, was intended to kick off the party's recruitment drive there.

However, as soon as Omar approached the auditorium, a commotion broke out because people were trying to prevent Ali from accessing the venue.

Police were forced to use tear gas canisters to disperse the rowdy supporters of the two MPs as a result, sending delegates, leaders, and members of the media fleeing for cover.

However, Malala said that the party will investigate the matter and will summon the leaders.

"We will act against people bringing violence to the party. We want to find police who lobbed teargas in a hall that was peaceful. We must have decorum, we will not condone violence in the party," said Malala.