Relief for Munya as PNU dissolution declared null and void

The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal on Tuesday overturned the decision by the registrar of political parties to dissolve the Party of National Unity and merge it with the newly formed Jubilee Party.

The three-member tribunal ruled that the respondent – registrar of political parties – acted in contempt of court since she was aware of the wrangles in the party and hence declared the gazettement of the dissolution of PNU as null and void.

The tribunal further ruled that the registrar of political parties, Ms Lucy Ndungu, should have checked with the PNU Constitution to ascertain whether the dissolution was done in the right order as per the party’s constitution.

The court heard that Kamama had no authority to sign the documents of dissolution and ruled the decision by the register of political parties to gazette the merger of PNU with jubilee party was null.

“The registrar reached the dissolution decision even before the party delegates met to dissolve the party,” ruled the tribunal.

Ms Ndungu has also been directed to publish within 14 days a gazette notice correcting the error.

In the case, the petitioners argued that folding up of the Party of National Unity (PNU) to Jubilee Party was un-procedural.

PNU Secretary General John Anunda argued that the decision by John Kamama, who declared the dissolution of the party, was illegal since he was not the chairman of the outfit.

Mr Anunda further argued that Kamama had not been gazetted by the Registrar of Political Parties and thus could not append his signature on the resolution for PNU to join Jubilee.

“There is nowhere that shows that Kamama is the PNU chairman. The process was an illegality and the only remedy available is to declare the merger between Jubilee and PNU a nullity,” argued Anunda.

PNU was among the eleven parties listed as having resolved to dissolve and join the Jubilee Party.

Meru Governor Peter Munya had already declared that he would seek re-election through PNU in 2017.

Meru Governor Peter Munya is now set to be named PNU party leader on Friday.