National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula is at the center of a political storm as he prepares to deliver a crucial ruling on the Majority and Minority leadership question on Wednesday afternoon. The decision follows a heated debate in Parliament on Tuesday, triggered by a recent High Court ruling that overturned Wetangula’s 2022 determination, which had recognized Kenya Kwanza as the Majority coalition.
The court, through a three-judge bench consisting of Justices John Chigiti, Lawrence Mugambi, and Jairus Ngaah, found that Wetang’ula’s earlier ruling was unconstitutional. The judges noted that the Speaker had unjustifiably assigned Kenya Kwanza 14 MPs from parties aligned with Azimio la Umoja, effectively tilting the balance in favor of President William Ruto’s coalition. The ruling has since sparked intense political maneuvering, as both camps seek to interpret its implications in their favor.
Following the ruling, MPs allied with Azimio, led by Minority Leader Junet Mohammed, defiantly crossed the floor on Tuesday, occupying seats designated for the Majority side. Junet insisted that the ruling must be obeyed unless appealed. “A court ruling has only two options obey it or appeal it. There is no third way,” he stated, hinting at readiness to assume the Majority Leader position.
However, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah dismissed Azimio’s claim, arguing that the court ruling did not explicitly declare which coalition holds the Majority. “The ruling only annulled your [Wetang’ula’s] October 2022 decision. The effect is that we revert to the status quo as of August 9, 2022,” Ichung’wah asserted, maintaining that Kenya Kwanza remains the Majority coalition.
The debate quickly escalated, with Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo calling for Wetang’ula’s resignation, citing a conflict of interest due to his position as Ford Kenya party leader. Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro, on the other hand, defended the Speaker, stating that Parliament is an independent arm of government that should not be dictated to by the courts.
In response to the uproar, Wetang’ula allowed members to debate the matter before making his final ruling on Wednesday. “Neither the court nor any other organization can make decisions for this House,” he asserted, signaling his resistance to judicial interference in parliamentary affairs.
With political tensions high, Wetangula’s ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications on the balance of power in Parliament, and both sides will be keenly watching as he delivers his verdict.
