Masombo Hits Out at UDA Busia Leadership Over Ruto Support
By Emmanuel Jumaah
A fresh dispute has emerged within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in Busia County after Funyula parliamentary aspirant Eugene Masombo hit back at county party officials of campaigning for leaders from rival political parties.
The exchange follows remarks by Busia UDA Chairman Maurice Chetambe, who criticized some party members for supporting politicians from other parties under the guise of the Broad-Based Government.
Speaking to the media, Chetambe maintained that although UDA is working with other political parties in government, there is no political party called the "Broad-Based Government." He emphasized that every party will field its own candidates in the next General Election and warned UDA members against campaigning for opponents.
_"There are many who think that because we are in a Broad-Based Government, we now have a Broad-Based Party. There is no party called Broad-Based Party.
As UDA, we have our own candidates. We do not support Governor Dr. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma. We have our candidates, and we will support them until the very end. If you are in ODM, stay in ODM. If you are in UDA, stay in UDA" - Maurice Chetambe
"We will not accept zoning in Busia County," Chetambe said, adding that UDA intends to contest all elective seats and expects its members to remain loyal to the party and its candidates.
A day later, Masombo responded, dismissing claims that he was campaigning for Busia Governor Paul Otuoma of ODM. He said interacting and working with leaders from different political parties should not be interpreted as supporting their political ambitions.
Masombo argued that, as a UDA member, he has every right to collaborate with leaders from across the political divide within the framework of the Broad-Based Government to help advance President William Ruto's development agenda. According to him, such cooperation is aimed at promoting development and national unity rather than party politics.
The Funyula parliamentary hopeful also turned his criticism toward the current UDA leadership in Busia County, accusing officials of failing to strengthen the party or build sufficient support for President Ruto in the region
*"Those accusations are probably just coming from idle busy bodies, because leadership is not all about calling press conferences. The work of party leadership is to look for more voters and grow the party. We are working hard and we are delivering, together with all our partners. As for those who call themselves leaders, they are not even leaders to begin with. Who elected them? If they were real leaders, they would be known for their performance and for building the party."*~ Eugene Masombo
He also singled out County Chairman Maurice Chetambe and Secretary Stephen Buluma, describing the leadership as ineffective and self-serving. He claimed the county officials had done little to grow the party at the grassroots despite expecting loyalty from members.
He called for changes in the county leadership, saying UDA needs leaders capable of uniting members, strengthening the party's grassroots structures, and positioning it for stronger performance in future elections.
The public exchange highlights growing differences within UDA's Busia leadership over how the party should relate with leaders from other political parties under the Broad-Based Government, even as preparations for the next election cycle begin to gather momentum.
