Political Parties Dispute tribunal reinstates Senator Malala as the Deputy Minority leader

By Mourice Seretta

The Political Parties Dispute tribunal has reinstated Senator Cleophas Malala as the Deputy Minority leader until a case he has filed is heard and determined.

Malala was removed from the position after the ODM party Senate Parliamentary Group held a meeting in March and resolved to oust him accusing him of disrespect among other things.

Malala however filed a complaint with Political Parties Dispute tribunal saying his ouster was illegal.

Malala lauded the tribunal’s ruling paying special gratitude to his legal counsel led by LSK President Nelson Havi for their support.

The Tribunal now says an inter-parties hearing on the application and preliminary objection will be heard virtually on 18th May at 2:30pm.

The respondent (ODM) as well as interested parties among them Senator Stewart Madzayo and the ANC party have also been directed to file their responses within 7 days.

The removal of Malala and the subsequent election of Madzayo to replace him has heightened tensions between ODM and ANC with the later accusing the former of disrespecting their pre-election coalition agreement.

A section of NASA affiliated Senators met weeks ago and ousted Malala.

Addressing the media just outside parliament buildings after the ouster, Senator Orengo confirmed then that all 28 senators had received invitations through the deputy Minority whip Beatrice Kwamboka.

He, however, declined to comment on what they deliberated upon, adding that they will provide a conclusive report later, which they have never done.

Sen. Orengo said they met to cover myriad emerging issues among them the BBI draft bill, questions of leadership within the coalition and consequential bills that will follow the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2020.

Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress party and Moses Wetangula’s Ford Kenya condemned the removal of Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala from the Deputy Minority leadership position in the Senate.

ANC said that Malala was appointed into that capacity as a Nasa representative and vowed to revisit the decision.

“We consider this as a hostile action from ODM and will not take it lying down. We will revisit,” ANC said after Malala’s axe.

Ford Kenya said Malala’s removal was linked to the Matungu by-election which the ANC candidate won resigning ODM to second place.

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