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Azimio MPs have called for National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to step down, arguing that he is unfit to oversee the House while holding the position of leader of Ford Kenya.
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The lawmakers made the request following a High Court ruling that found Wetang’ula’s dual role as both Speaker and party leader unconstitutional.
Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo raised a point of order, stating that Wetang’ula was in a conflict of interest and could not impartially preside over House proceedings while leading Ford Kenya. She argued that Wetang’ula would be in contempt of court if he continued as Speaker without resigning from his party leadership.
Odhiambo urged Wetang’ula to step aside temporarily, allowing his deputy to take over House duties until the issue is settled. “I respectfully ask you to step down and let your deputy handle the business due to your conflict of interest,” she said.
The Deputy Speaker is constitutionally authorized to preside over the House in the Speaker’s absence.
Last week, the High Court ruled that Wetang’ula’s dual role was unconstitutional, declaring, “Once he became Speaker, he ceased to be the leader of Ford Kenya.”
Despite the calls for his recusal, Wetang’ula rejected them, asserting his neutrality in House matters and maintaining that no substantive motion had been raised regarding his conduct.
“There is no motion before this House, and as a senior lawyer, I’ve read the ruling carefully—it doesn’t require me to vacate office,” Wetang’ula said. He also emphasized that the court’s ruling did not cast any doubts on him or his position.
In a separate development, some Azimio-affiliated MPs occupied seats typically reserved for the majority party in the National Assembly.
Upon the House’s resumption after a two-month recess, Azimio lawmakers took positions on the right-hand side of the chamber, a section traditionally designated for government-affiliated MPs. This action followed the High Court’s ruling that recognized the Azimio La Umoja Coalition Party as the majority in the House.
