Cleophas Malala, the Deputy Party Leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has been ordered to pay a total of KSh305,000 in legal costs to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and its chairperson, Cecily Mbarire. This follows a court battle he lost after challenging his removal as UDA Secretary-General.

The ruling was issued by High Court Deputy Registrar Lydia Mbacho, sitting at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), who directed Malala to pay Sh155,660 to UDA and Sh150,000 to Mbarire.

“The High Court of Kenya at Political Parties disputes tribunal, do hereby certify that the 2nd respondent's party and party bill of costs dated August 28, 2024 and lodged by Adrian Kamotho Njenga and Company Advocates, was taxed on July 10, 2025 and allowed in favour of the 2nd respondent as against the complainant in the sum of Sh150,000 only,” Mbacho ruled.

Malala had filed the case in August 2024, arguing that his ouster was politically driven. He said his removal and the appointment of Hassan Omar in an acting capacity came after he openly criticized UDA's leadership and the way the party had handled its campaign promises.

However, the High Court dismissed his petition in January 2025. Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled in favour of UDA and upheld Omar’s appointment as legitimate. The court found that Malala was no longer the party’s Secretary-General.

The court’s decision cleared the way for UDA to claim legal costs. On Tuesday, the tribunal finalized the matter by officially ordering Malala to pay both UDA and Mbarire. “I do hereby certify that the 2nd Respondent’s Party and Party Bill of Costs dated August 28, 2024,” Mbacho's ruling stated.

The legal battle dates back to October 2024, when Malala tried to block his removal by seeking intervention from the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal. This led the tribunal to instruct Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu to put on hold any leadership changes at UDA until the case was heard.

Malala’s exit from UDA came after internal tensions escalated. The party’s National Executive Council convened an urgent meeting to address growing disagreements, which eventually led to his removal.

While Malala initially received temporary relief when the tribunal briefly reinstated him, the reprieve was short-lived. On April 28, Justice Bahati Mwamuye overturned the tribunal’s ruling and backed the decision by UDA’s top organs to remove him.

Since then, Malala has joined DCP and taken on the role of Deputy Party Leader. DCP is aligned with Rigathi Gachagua, a known critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Hassan Omar has since taken over as UDA's acting Secretary-General, following a decision made by the party chairperson, Cecily Mbarire.

Malala's financial penalty comes just a day after another former UDA member, Gloria Orwoba, was ordered to pay KSh10.5 million in a defamation case. In that case, Magistrate Ruguru Ngotho ruled that Orwoba defamed Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye through posts on her WhatsApp, Facebook, and X accounts. Orwoba has announced plans to appeal the verdict, claiming it was politically influenced.