MILIMANI COURT,Nairobi –Eliud Owalo has formally withdrawn his appeal and application for temporary orders challenging the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) ruling that nullified his appointment as Gor Mahia Football Club patron.
The withdrawal, filed on August 14, 2026, at the Milimani High Court Civil Appellate Division, comes after the court declined to grant conservatory orders on all prayers presented by the former patron.
Owalo had moved to the High Court seeking to suspend implementation of the SDT judgment delivered on August 4, 2026, which declared his confirmation as patron unconstitutional and void ab initio.
The application sought temporary injunctive relief and a status quo order pending appeal.
In its ruling, the Tribunal found that Gor Mahia’s Executive Committee lacked constitutional authority to appoint a patron, a power reserved exclusively for the Board of Trustees under Articles 5.4, 7, and 8(1) of the club’s 2019 Constitution.
The Tribunal noted the Board of Trustees has never been constituted since the Constitution’s adoption in 2019.
The SDT further directed the Executive Committee to convene an Annual General Meeting within 60 days to constitute the Board of Trustees before any lawful patron appointment can be made.
With the withdrawal of his appeal and the denial of interim orders, Owalo substantively ceases to hold the office of patron. Under the SDT directives, he cannot hold or exercise the office unless and until lawfully appointed through the proper constitutional process.
The implication is that Owalo’s reinstatement is not immediately possible, given that the Board of Trustees the only body empowered to appoint a patron does not currently exist. The Club must first constitute the Board before any lawful appointment can be made.
The withdrawal marks the conclusion of Owalo’s legal challenge following the High Court’s refusal to grant interim orders, effectively affirming the SDT ruling that his appointment was unconstitutional.
In a related development that underscores the deepening concerns over governance within the club, life member Sam Ochola had formally requested access to critical club documents on August 1, 2026, amid mounting calls for greater transparency in the wake of the unresolved board of trustees impasse.
