Cleophas Malala Ordered to Pay UDA Legal Fees in Major Political Setback

By Gidion Ngenoh

Nairobi, Kenya – Deputy Party Leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), Cleophas Malala, has suffered a significant legal and political defeat after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) ordered him to pay Ksh150,000 to his former party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), as legal costs.

The ruling, issued on Tuesday, marks the end of a protracted legal battle Malala initiated in October 2024 after his controversial removal as UDA’s Secretary-General. The tribunal ruled in favor of UDA, with Deputy Registrar Lydiah Mbacho formally signing off on the certificate that confirmed the party’s legal victory.

“I hereby certify that the 2nd Respondent’s Party and Party Bill of Costs dated August 28, 2024,” Mbacho stated in her judgment, officially granting UDA the right to claim legal fees from Malala.

The dispute began last year when Malala challenged his dismissal by the UDA National Executive Council (NEC), which had cited growing internal friction and a loss of confidence in his leadership. His ouster prompted the tribunal to temporarily freeze any changes to UDA’s leadership structure, pending the outcome of the case.

However, on April 28, 2025, High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye delivered a decisive blow to Malala’s challenge by upholding the NEC’s decision to remove him. The court overturned the earlier PPDT directive that had reinstated him, effectively sealing his fate within the ruling party.

Following his departure, Malala joined the newly formed Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), where he currently serves as Deputy Party Leader under the leadership of Rigathi Gachagua, another vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Meanwhile, UDA has since moved to stabilize its leadership by appointing former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar as acting Secretary-General. The decision was led by UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire in a bid to restore internal cohesion.

Malala's legal defeat comes amid increasing pressure on former UDA members. In a separate development on Monday, former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba was ordered by the Milimani Commercial Court to pay Ksh10.5 million in a defamation case. Magistrate Ruguru Ngotho found Orwoba guilty of publishing defamatory allegations against Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye on social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter).

Despite the ruling, Orwoba vowed to appeal the decision, describing it as politically motivated and an attack on her outspoken political stance.

Both cases underscore the rising tensions and legal challenges facing defectors and former officials from UDA, as internal divisions and high-stakes power struggles continue to reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.