What You Need to Know
The High Court in Nairobi has upheld a ruling by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal reinstating Gloria Orwoba to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). The court dismissed UDA’s application to suspend the tribunal’s decision, stating that the party failed to demonstrate substantial loss. Orwoba was expelled in May 2025 over alleged disloyalty, but the tribunal found the expulsion process to be
Africa-Press – Kenya. The High Court has declined to suspend the ruling by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) that reinstated former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
This is after the Court in Nairobi dismissed an application by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Electoral Nomination and Dispute Resolution Committee seeking to suspend a tribunal ruling pending an ongoing appeal.
In his ruling, Justice Linus Kassan found that the party had not met the legal threshold for granting a stay of execution pending appeal, noting that it had failed to demonstrate substantial loss.
The judge observed that while the application had been filed without delay, the applicant did not show what substantial loss it would suffer if the stay was not granted.
“It is trite that substantial loss is the cornerstone of the Court’s jurisdiction for granting a stay,” the judge stated, adding, “Should the applicant succeed on appeal, its decision would be upheld. It cannot be posited that the appeal will be rendered nugatory.”
The dispute stems from a decision by UDA’s disciplinary committee in May 2025 to expel Orwoba over allegations of violating party rules.
She challenged the decision before the PPDT, which, on August 20, 2025, quashed the expulsion and declared the disciplinary process unlawful.
UDA’s internal dispute resolution organ later moved to the High Court seeking to halt the enforcement of the ruling, arguing that it risked being cited for contempt and would undermine the party’s internal autonomy.
The court rejected the argument on contempt, stating that the tribunal’s orders were directed at the UDA party and not the committee. “The question of contempt does not arise,” the judge said.
Orwoba had been expelled from the party over allegations of disloyalty, claims she dismissed as politically motivated.
In its judgment delivered on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the tribunal chaired by Desma Nungo found that UDA’s disciplinary process violated the principles of natural justice and due process.
“There was no fair opportunity for hearing, and the complainant was not furnished with the impugned decision,” the tribunal ruled.
In its final orders, the tribunal declared the expulsion unlawful, quashed the decision removing her from the party’s register, and barred UDA from taking any steps to remove her based on the flawed process.
Following her expulsion in May, UDA moved to fill the vacancy. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) gazetted Consolata Nabwire Wakwabubi as her replacement on August 15.
Subsequently, Wakwabubi was sworn into office in a ceremony presided over by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi on Wednesday, August 20, following her gazettement.
Gloria Orwoba’s expulsion from the UDA in May 2025 was rooted in allegations of disloyalty, which she claimed were politically motivated. The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal later quashed her expulsion, citing violations of natural justice and due process during the disciplinary proceedings. This ruling emphasized the importance of fair hearing rights within political party governance, reflecting ongoing tensions in Kenyan politics regarding party discipline and member rights. The High Court’s recent decision to uphold this ruling reinforces the tribunal’s authority in resolving internal party disputes.
