Cleophas Malala Denies Being Ruto’s “Mole,” Admits Talking to Wetang’ula and Says He Could “Go to Ruto” Any Time

DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala has hit back at claims he’s secretly working with President William Ruto. He says he’s free to talk to anyone in politics, Ruto included.

In an interview with Amaica Media, Malala revealed he spoke to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula just a day before, even though the two disagreed. His argument: political rivals talk far more than Kenyans are told.

Malala addressed the “mole” accusation head on. He said the same people accusing him also keep their own private lines open with rivals. Why does nobody call that out, he asked. He said he won’t be intimidated into silence. Talking to Ruto, he argued, wouldn’t need secrecy or an apology.

One of the more notable moments came when Malala said he’d spoken directly with Speaker Wetang’ula the previous day. He didn’t pretend it went smoothly. He said the two disagreed. But he insisted the conversation happened and offered to produce their messages as proof.

Malala said this kind of contact between political opponents is more common than the public realises. He pointed to Ruto and former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua as an example. He also mentioned Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. His argument is simple. Kenyans are often sold a picture of total political separation between rivals. Reality looks different.

This isn’t the first time Malala has faced the mole label. Speculation about his political direction has built since mid-2026, around the same time his visibility within DCP dropped and reports surfaced of meetings with Ruto-allied officials.

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has publicly claimed Malala is reaching out to the president through intermediaries. Earlier this year, Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina made a separate accusation, saying Malala was working with rival county officials against Gachagua’s interests. Malala has dismissed both claims as government attempts to divide the opposition ahead of 2027.

Malala has been open about his own ambitions too. He’s said he plans to run for Kakamega governor in 2027 and has backed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for a top opposition ticket position. That stance has put him at odds with some opposition colleagues, who’ve told him to focus on unity instead of early succession politics.

Malala’s comments touch a real nerve inside Kenya’s opposition. There’s growing suspicion about backchannel talks with State House, and opposition unity ahead of 2027 is already shaky. Some Kenyans will see his openness as honesty. Others will hear it as proof of the very thing he’s denying. Either way, it’s likely to keep shaping his political future and DCP’s internal unity in the months ahead.