Decision by United Democratic Forum Party to suspend officials reversed

A move by the United Democratic Forum Party (UDF) to suspend party officials suffered a setback yesterday after a tribunal reversed the decision.

The Political Parties Dispute Resolution Tribunal reversed the decision of the party's National Executive Committee to suspend the party's national chairman and executive officials.

The tribunal directed that the suspension of the officials be stayed, noting that the move to remove nominated MP Mr Hassan Osman with other party executive committee officials was unprocedural and unlawful.

This followed an application filed under certificate of urgency by the acting chairman Wycliffe Oyondi Okeo, Caroline Muthoni Boy (secretary) and Pauline Achieng (Woman Rep).

Through lawyer Hassan Lakicha, the party officials have sued party leader Musalia Mudavadi, deputy party leader Jeremiah Kioni, deputy secretary general Petronilla Were and the party's national organising secretary Kassim Sawa.

The officials have accused the party officials of failing to follow the laid down regulations in the removal of the party's chairman and executive committee members. They urged the tribunal to issue an order to restrain the Registrar of Political Parties from acting and effecting the purported suspension, pending the hearing of the dispute. The matter will be heard on October 8.