Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has secured a significant legal victory after the High Court dismissed an application by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) seeking to suspend a tribunal ruling that nullified her expulsion from the party.
In a ruling delivered on April 13, 2026, the court declined to stay the implementation of the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) decision issued on August 20, 2025, which had declared her removal unlawful.
UDA, through its Electoral Nomination and Dispute Resolution Committee, had argued that the tribunal’s decision interfered with its internal disciplinary processes and governance structures.
But Orwoba, represented by lawyer Moses Mabeya, pushed back strongly, telling the court the application was “an afterthought, unmeritorious, mischievous, frivolous, incompetent and an abuse of the court process.”
In its determination, the court found that UDA had not met the threshold required to grant a stay of execution.
“It is trite that the power of the court to grant a stay of execution… is discretionary,” the judge noted, adding that such discretion must be exercised judiciously.
Crucially, the court held that UDA failed to prove substantial loss.
“Substantial loss… is the cornerstone of the Court’s jurisdiction for granting stay… without a demonstration of substantial loss, it would be rare that any other event would render the appeal nugatory.”
The judge further dismissed claims that the tribunal ruling could not be implemented, rejecting arguments that it was merely a “negative order” incapable of execution.
“There were a raft of orders… with a directive element… it cannot be concluded that the orders… were negative and incapable of execution,” the court ruled.
On the preliminary objection raised by Orwoba, the court found that it did not meet the legal standard required.
“A preliminary objection… must be founded upon a settled and crisp point of law,” the judge stated, noting that the issues raised required factual interrogation.
The dispute stems from UDA’s decision in May 2025 to expel Orwoba, a move she successfully challenged before the tribunal. The PPDT ruled in her favour, declaring the expulsion unlawful and reinstating her membership.
The High Court also dismissed UDA’s argument that the appeal would be rendered useless if the orders were not stayed, noting that the party could still enforce its disciplinary processes if it ultimately succeeds.
With the application dismissed, the tribunal ruling remains in force as the appeal proceeds—marking a major win for Orwoba in her ongoing standoff with the ruling party.
The court directed that each party bear its own costs.
