NAIROBI, Kenya — Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala has suffered a fresh legal setback after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) ordered him to pay Sh150,000 in legal costs to United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Chairperson Cecily Mbarire.
The ruling comes after the tribunal dismissed a case Malala filed last year challenging UDA’s internal restructuring—a process that led to his ouster as the party’s secretary general.
In a certificate of taxation issued on July 15, 2025, Lydiah Mbacho, the Registrar of the High Court at the PPDT, confirmed that the tribunal had taxed and approved the costs incurred by Mbarire during the legal proceedings.
“I do hereby certify… the sum of Sh150,000 only,” the certificate reads, referencing a bill of costs lodged by Mbarire’s legal team from Adrian Kamotho Njenga & Company Advocates.
Malala’s Challenge Dismissed
Malala had filed the case accusing UDA of flouting its own constitution during a leadership shake-up that saw him replaced by Hassan Omar.
He alleged the restructuring was politically motivated and designed to edge him out of the ruling party’s top ranks.
However, the tribunal dismissed his claims, ruling that internal party disputes must first be resolved through internal mechanisms before resorting to external legal action.
The tribunal also noted that Malala’s petition lacked merit and had unnecessarily burdened the respondents.
The decision to award costs against Malala was based on what the tribunal saw as an unsubstantiated legal challenge.
High Court Earlier Backed UDA’s Move
The PPDT ruling is the latest blow to Malala’s political standing within UDA. In a separate ruling earlier this year, the High Court upheld UDA’s decision to remove him as secretary general.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye dismissed an earlier PPDT order that had stopped the Registrar of Political Parties from formalizing the change in the party’s leadership.
That earlier order had temporarily halted Malala’s replacement, but the High Court found no legal grounds to stop UDA from naming Hassan Omar as its new secretary general.
Malala, a former Kakamega senator, has since aligned himself with the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) but continues to engage in legal battles stemming from his turbulent exit from UDA leadership.
