Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula leads proceedings on February 11, 2025/PARLIAMENT
Azimio MPs have called on National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to recuse himself from his position, arguing that he is unfit to oversee the House while serving as the leader of Ford Kenya.
The lawmakers made their demand after the High Court ruled that Wetang’ula’s dual role as Speaker and party leader was unconstitutional.
Raising a point of order, Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo asserted that Wetang’ula was conflicted and could not impartially preside over House proceedings while still leading Ford Kenya.
She said the speaker would be serving in contempt of court if he proceeded to preside over the house before relinquishing his role as leader of Ford Kenya.
Odhiambo urged Wetang’ula to step aside and allow his deputy to take over the House business until the matter is resolved.
“I humbly request you to step down and allow your deputy to take over because of your conflict of interest,’’ Odhiambo said.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, is constitutionally empowered to preside over House sessions in the absence of the Speaker.
Last week, the High Court ruled that Wetang’ula’s continued leadership of Ford Kenya while serving as Speaker was unconstitutional.
“The dual role is unlawful and unconstitutional,” the court ruled.
“Once he became Speaker of the National Assembly, he
ceased to be the leader of Ford Kenya.”
However, Wetang’ula dismissed the calls for his recusal, maintaining that he is a neutral arbiter in the conduct of House business and not a partisan player.
He also noted that no substantive motion had been tabled in the House regarding his conduct.
“There is no motion before this House, and as a senior lawyer, I have read the ruling carefully—it does not require me to vacate office,” Wetang’ula said.
He further asserted that the court ruling did not cast any aspersions on him or his office.
Meanwhile, a section of Azimio-affiliated MPs on Tuesday occupied seats traditionally reserved for the majority party in the National Assembly.
As the House resumed from a two-month recess, Azimio-allied lawmakers sat on the right-hand side of the chamber, a section typically designated for government-affiliated MPs.
The move follows a High Court ruling that declared the Azimio La Umoja Coalition Party the majority in the House.