Cleophas Malala has been dealt a blow after the High Court upheld his removal as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye delivered the ruling on Monday, April 28, quashing a decision made by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), which had temporarily reinstated Malala to his position in UDA.
In the ruling, the court reaffirmed that the gazette notice, which formalised Malala's removal, was enforceable and valid.
"The 1st 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 ruling stated.
Proceedings before the PPDT were also effectively nullified, meaning Malala can no longer challenge his ouster through that avenue in another devastating blow to the former Secretary General.
The court ruling also cemented the appointment of Hassan Omar as the official UDA Secretary General, effectively consolidating the recent changes in leadership in the ruling party.
In October last year, the now-former Secretary General attempted to battle his removal by taking up the matter with a tribunal, which compelled Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu to refrain from effecting changes in the UDA hierarchy pending Malala's case.
Malala's expulsion followed weeks of wrangles with the party, which prompted UDA's National Executive Council (NEC) to call for an urgent meeting to discuss the way forward, which of course revolved around removing Malala from his position.
After the meeting presided over by the party’s national chairperson, Cecile Mbarire, Malala’s appointment as the interim secretary general of UDA was revoked in August 2024, and the changes were later made official in a gazette notice.
In the wake of his ouster, Malala continued his rebellion against UDA, boldly accusing the party of victimising him for declining to support the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Malala was also adamant that Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah and Cecily Mbarire were the masterminds behind his ouster as UDA Secretary General.
As recently as April, Malala was making headlines again, albeit for political reasons, as a high school play, Echoes of War, which he wrote and directed, ignited national debate, particularly because it subtly drew parallels from the country's current political state.
