Wetang’ula stares at ouster as Azimio MPs protest ruling

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula is now staring at impeachment following his declaration of Kenya Kwanza as the majority party amid protest from the minority side.

Led by Minority leader Junet Mohammed, the opposition MPs walked out protesting the ruling, threatening to paralyse Parliament by withdrawing their members from the all-important House Business Committee.

This is the first time President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza is clashing with the Raila Odinga’s Azimio in Parliament since the formation of the broad-based government.

Speaking at media center, the Azimio MPs also said they are considering a number of actions including sponsoring impeachment against the Speaker over his ‘biased’ ruling.

“You just said it,” Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo said when asked whether impeachment is one of the options.

Making his ruling days after the court quashed initial ruling that conferred the majority status to the Ruto-led coalition, Wetang’ula said Azimio has no numbers to claim dominance in the House.

According to the Speaker Azimio la Umoja has 154 MPs compared to Kenya Kwanza’s 165.

“The Kenya Kwanza coalition is the majority party while the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party is the minority party,” Wetang’ula ruled.

The Registrar of Political Parties, he noted, provided the figures, after Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei instructed the Clerk to write to the registrar.

This was however protested by the minority side with Minority Leader Junet Mohamed withdrawing their nominees to the crucial House Business Committee.

Junet also faulted Speaker’s admission that his deputy instructed the Clerk to write to the Registrar arguing that it was unprocedural.

“I want to inform you Mr Speaker that we have withdrawn our members from the House Business Committee,” Junet said.

But Wetang’ula stood his ground saying the withdrawal did not follow the laid down procedure.

“You don’t change the content of a motion by picketing on the floor. No member listed in the motion is withdrawn,” Wetang’ula said.

“The motion is properly in the House with names of the majority and minority.”

Earlier, Millie expressed dissatisfaction with Speaker’s ruling threatening the coalition will soon take unspecified action.

“As Azimio we respectfully disagree with the ruling, we are going to take the next action,” Millie said.

The minority side unable to convince the Speaker stormed out of the chambers vowing to challenge the ruling in court.