The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is now facing a leadership row over control of the party.
This is after the former chairman, Mohamed Abdi Noor moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal alleging that the party was illegally acquired and its constitutions subverted.
Noor is seeking to oust Chairman Johnson Muthama, Secretary-General Veronica Maina, and Boni Khalwale from the party's leadership.
In his application to the tribunal, Noor seeks to have the changes made to the party reverted and he be reinstated as its chairman.
“I am aware on my own knowledge that the Registrar of Political Parties unlawfully made changes to the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) officials through Gazette Notice No. 1233 dated January 29, 2021, and 2739 published on March 19, 2021,” a sworn affidavit by Noor reads in part.
“The Registrar deliberately ignored complaints and reservations leading to the change of officials," he alleged.
He argued that on December 11, 2020, former secretary-general Mohamed Sahal convened a meeting in which the members signed PP10 forms and agreed to change the party's name from Party for Development and Reforms (PDR) to UDA.
Noor claimed that the members realized later on that the papers were to also be used to change the constitution of the party's NEC.
The petition by the former leadership comes days after the party won the Kiambaa Parliamentary seat during the July 15 by-elections, illustrating the party's rising popularity.
The party has been used by leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto to champion for their political agendas and is believed to be the DP's party in the run to the 2022 general elections.
While congratulating the people of Kiambaa and John Njuguna Wanjiku on his election, the DP stated that UDA Party is the future.
The petition by Noor will now be settled by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal pending formal conclusion on the case.
