Trouble in Eugene Wamalwa's DAP-K Party as Salasya Hints at Quitting, Backs Natembeya

• The typical schisms that characterise Kenyan political parties have landed in the Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K), whose party leader now decries sabotage from a faction within
• Eugene Wamalwa accused his deputy George Natembeya of plotting against him in the pursuit of the party's presidential ticket
• The party leader roped in the argumentative Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, whom he also accused of being part of Natembeya's machinations

Infighting is threatening the fabric of the Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K), which, since its formation in 2022, has never had its dirty linen aired in public.

The party under the leadership of former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa was among the founding outfits of the Azimio La Umoja Coalition Party, with whose ticket Raila Odinga unsuccessfully contested for the presidency.

All the while, the undertakings of the party have been under wraps, with Eugene assuming the brand ambassadorship role in his engagements with other political principals.

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But on Friday, August 1, it came to the public domain that there have been internal wrangles, with divisions rocking the party, pitting Eugene's side over that of Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya, the deputy party leader.

Eugene accuses Natembeya and Mumias East MP Peter Salasya of plotting a coup against him.

Natembeya and Salasya, an MP elected on a DAP Kenya ticket, have declared their ambitions for the presidency.

It is on that account that the party leader, who also declared his intention to run for the presidency, argued they were pushing a sinister motive against him.

"My brother Peter Salasya, both of you and George Natembeya do not have to leave or cause a coup in our party in order to become party leaders or presidential candidates," Eugene tweeted.

He invited them to a competitive process after which the party's presidential candidate can be found.

"You are welcome to face me for the presidential ticket in free and fair nominations, as ours is truly a democratic party that can allow us all to realise our political aspirations through internal democracy without wrecking our party or washing our dirty linen in public!" he said.

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Salasya, in a quick rebuttal, lashed out at Eugene for wrongly accusing him of pushing for an illegal takeover of the party.

He faulted the party leader for failing to recognise his efforts in calling out Natembeya.

Salasya is on record bashing Natembeya for driving an agenda different from DAP Kenya, speaking to the likelihood of the Trans Nzoia governor ditching the party to join a rival faction.

The MP suggested that he went for Natembeya's jugular in defence of the party leader.

That Eugene did not recognise the foregoing hurt Salasya, and he even apologised to Natembeya for being harsh with him.

He threatened to take a back seat in the affairs of DAP Kenya.

"I am not going to engage further, but I will focus on what I started. Defending a politician in Kenya is so hard. I am sorry, George Natembeya, for hitting you hard unknowingly. Someone wasn't appreciating my efforts, and now am also on the bus. I am sorry for real," Salasya said.s

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Source: TUKO.co.ke