Bid to remove Hassan Osman as UDF chair flops

Kenya: United Democratic Forum (UDF) leader Musalia Mudavadi has suffered a set back after the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal quashed his decision to remove Nominated MP Hassan Osman as party chairman.

The tribunal said UDF's national governing council meeting convened by Mudavadi did not have the mandate to expel the chairman and national executive committee members. Tribunal chairman Kyalo Mbuba said the National Executive Council meeting held on September 16, 2014, which resolved to expel Mr Osma,n was illegal.

"The NEC meeting was not properly constituted as provided for under the party constitution," Mr Mbuba said.

Mbuba pointed out that UDF does not have internal dispute resolution mechanisms in their constitution which can resolve disputes involving Mudavadi, adding that Osman should have been sent for arbitration.

The tribunal also barred Mudavadi, his deputy Jeremiah Kioni, Petronilla Were and Kassim Sawa from convening any meeting of the National Governing Council and the National Delegates Congress.