Court upholds Malala's removal as UDA Secretary General
The court ruled that the appeal Malala had made before the tribunal was invalid, effectively sealing his removal from office.
Cleophas Malala has suffered a major setback after the High Court upheld a decision to remove him from his position as Secretary General of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Bahati Mwamuye confirmed that the August 19, 2024 Gazette notice, which had ousted Malala, remains valid, dismissing any attempts to reinstate him.
Malala's legal challenge to the decision, which was previously temporarily reversed by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), was quashed by the High Court.
The court ruled that the appeal Malala had made before the tribunal was invalid, effectively sealing his removal from office.
"The first respondent’s appeal before the PPDT is hereby terminated and shall not proceed before the tribunal. Any orders previously issued in favour of the respondent are hereby vacated," the court ruling stated.
With the PPDT proceedings now nullified, the court’s decision reinforces the leadership changes within the UDA, officially cementing Hassan Omar's position as the legitimate Secretary-General.
Omar, a former Mombasa Senator and a close ally of President William Ruto, is expected to take charge of the party as it prepares for the next phase of political activities, including upcoming elections.
His appointment, which follows Malala’s dismissal, is seen as a move to strengthen the party's leadership.
The UDA party, in a statement issued following the decision, confirmed that Malala's appointment as Secretary-General was revoked after consultations within the National Executive Committee (NEC).
"The appointment of Hon Cleophas Malala as the interim Secretary General is hereby revoked. These changes are effective immediately," part of the statement read.
Malala had initially contested his ouster, arguing that the decision was unlawful and politically motivated.