Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala on Friday withdrew a case he filed against the party Chairperson Cecily Mbarire.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Malala's lead lawyer Ndegwa Njiru revealed that the former Kakamega Senator withdrew the case from the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal to concentrate on another similar case.
Ndegwa Njiru, however, dismissed allegations that the court ordered Malala to pay Mbarire the cost of the suit following his decision to withdraw the case.
"As you know, we have a similar case pending in court, so we just decided to withdraw this one to concentrate on the other case," Njiru clarified.
"Ignore the rumours circulating that we have been ordered to pay the damages for the suit, the reports are not true," Njiru added.
Malala, in his petition filed on August 2 this year, faulted Mbarire for convening a party meeting to oust him arguing that the meeting violated UDA’s internal regulations.
The former secretary general in his petition further claimed that Mbarire was not a substantive party official but serving in an acting capacity.
Malala, as a result, urged the court to block the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) from addressing or passing any resolution to kick him out of office.
“The court should issue a temporary injunction restraining the NEC from removing me from office or interfering with my duties as Secretary General pending the court’s decision on this matter,” Malala’s court papers read.
However, despite moving to court, the party went ahead to dismiss Malala from the position as secretary general and replaced him with Hassan Omar Hassan, who was previously the party's Vice Chairperson.
"The appointment of Hon Cleophas Malala as the interim Secretary General is hereby revoked. These changes are effective immediately," read part of the statement by UDA.
According to UDA, the decision to dismiss Malala was reached after wide and consultative deliberations on the next course of action following the latter's wrangles with party founder Joe Khalende.
