- The petition was filed by Malala at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal on Thursday.
- In the Petition, Malala cites UDA chair Cecily Mbarire and the party as first and second respondents.
Image: FILE
There was a cloud of confusion on Friday after UDA party's National Executive Committee (NEC) revoked former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala's appointment as acting Secretary General.
This was despite a court order being issued on Thursday, stopping the NEC meeting.
The petition was filed by Malala at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal on Thursday.
"Pending the hearing and determination of the Application, this Honourable Tribunal hereby issues an interim order barring the 1st and 2nd Respondents from holding and/or proceeding with NEC Meeting on Friday 2nd August 2024," the order by chairperson, Political Parties Disputes Tribunal Desma Nungo reads.
In the Petition, Malala cites UDA chair Cecily Mbarire and the party as first and second respondents.
The case will be mentioned on Tuesday, August 13.
"The Notice of Motion Application be listed for mention on 13th August 2024 at 2.30 pm to check on compliance and for further directions as to the hearing of the application."
On Friday, however, the party announced that its top organ had resolved to revoke Malala from the secretary general position.
The party said that upon consultation, the position will be taken up by vice chairperson, Hassan Omar, on an Interim basis.
The party's National Executive Committee (NEC) said the changes are effective immediately.
"Upon wide and consultative deliberations, and in compliance and in accordance with its mandate under Article 8.2 of the Party Constitution, the National Executive Committee has determined to designate the Vice-Chairperson, Hon. Hassan Omar Hassan to act as the Secretary General on an interim basis.
"The appointment of Hon Cleophas Malala as the interim Secretary General is hereby revoked," the party said.
The NEC meeting was chaired by the party's chairperson and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire.
Malala was appointed acting UDA Secretary General in February 2023.
He replaced Veronica Maina who was nominated to the Senate.
The party has in the recent past experienced internal wars over the position.
A section of UDA members have been calling for Malala's ouster.
On Tuesday, lawyer Joe Khalende stormed the UDA party headquarters claiming to have taken over as SG.
Khalende also claimed that Malala has not been taking his duties as the SG seriously hence the need to replace him.
"He is against the formation of a broad-based government and I'm here to confirm that he is no longer the secretary general of the UDA party. I Joe Khalende will be taking over as the Secretary General of the UDA party," he said.
"Going forward, the UDA party is going back to its members. It was formed as a people-centred party, not on individuals within the party."
Chairperson Mbarire, however, dismissed Khalende's claims saying that UDA is a party that has structures guiding its operations.