February 11 marked a tumultuous return to National Assembly sittings, as Azimio MPs took to the majority side in accordance with a recent High Court ruling that redefined the power dynamics between the political factions. Arriving at Parliament shortly before the afternoon session began, the Azimio legislators made their presence felt, leading to significant disruptions.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula opened the session but was quickly faced with interruptions from the Azimio mps. They obstructed Kilifi North MP Owen Baya’s attempt to discuss an Auditor General report, forcing Wetangula to address concerns raised by Azimio representatives. Suba South MP Millie Odhiambo called for Wetangula to resign, arguing that his dual role as Speaker and leader of Ford Kenya presented a conflict of interest. She urged the Speaker to hand over the duties to Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei and to formally recognize Junet Mohamed as the Majority Leader and Robert Mbui as his deputy.
This call for resignation was rooted in a recent High Court ruling, where Justices John Chigiti, Lawrence Mugambi, and Jairus Ngaah determined that Wetangula’s dual roles were incompatible. “Mr. Speaker, the court’s judgment implies that you should step down and allow Gladys Boss Shollei to assume your responsibilities,” Odhiambo asserted.
Junet Mohamed echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the ruling party should not automatically be recognized as the Majority. However, Speaker Wetangula firmly rejected the calls for his resignation, stating that the court’s decision did not mandate such action.
“On the matter of whether I should preside over the proceedings, I can quickly clarify that there is no motion concerning my resignation. As an experienced lawyer, I have reviewed the judgment, and it does not require me to step down,” Wetangula responded.
The session continued amidst the chaos, illustrating the heightened tensions within the assembly as political factions grapple with shifting allegiances and power dynamics.
