High Court upholds removal of Malala as UDA secretary general

By , April 28, 2025

The High Court on Monday, April 28, 2025, upheld the removal of Cleophas Malala as the secretary general of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the removal of Malala from the position by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) through a gazette notice of August 19, 2024, is valid and in force.

“A declaration is hereby issued, affirming the gazette notice volume CXXVI 128 dated August 19, 2024, remains valid and in force, and this court’s orders accord with the status quo established by that gazette notice,” Justice Mwamuye ruled.

PPDT decision quashed

Further, Justice Mwamuye quashed the temporal decision that was issued by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) on September 27, 2024, reinstating Malala’s position as the UDA Secretary General.

“An order is hereby issued, quashing the directions of the orders made on September 27, 2024, by the political parties’ dispute tribunal in PPDT Appeal No. E005/2024, and quashing any other subsequent orders emanating from or in furtherance of those proceedings,” he ruled.

Additionally, Justice Mwamuye issued another order quashing and setting aside the entire proceeding before the PPDT appeal no. E005/2024.

“The appeal is hereby terminated and shall not be heard or proceeded with by a tribunal or by any orders subsisting therein if any stand vacated,” Justice Mwamuye ruled.

In October 2024, the tribunal of Desma Nungo, Stephen Musau, Muzna Jin and Abdirahman Adan Abdikadir restrained the Registrar of Political Parties, Anne Nderitu, from effecting the changes in the ruling party pending the hearing of a case filed by Malala.

Malala axed

On August 2, 2024, UDA NEC removed Malala as secretary general after weeks of vigorous squabble in the leading party, where he was accused of undermining the party.

The expulsion came after the UDA National chairperson Cecile Mbarire led a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) to find a solution to the wrangles that were being witnessed in the party and revoked Malala as the interim secretary general.

Malala moved to court and sued the UDA Party Chairperson and named his successor Hassan Omar as an interested party after the Registrar of Political Parties acknowledged his removal from the office.

The party, through the National Executive Council (NEC), had replaced Malala with the former Mombasa senator.

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