Kenya Kwanza MPs defend Speaker Wetangula over claims of being biased

The MPs, primarily from the Western region, issued a statement condemning critics of the government, who they accused of attempting to tarnish Wetangula’s image following his controversial ruling declaring Kenya Kwanza as the majority in the House.

The MPs, led by John Chikati, Beatrice Adagala, and Bisau Kakai, vowed to face off with those attempting to discredit Wetangula, underscoring that the Speaker lawfully pronounced himself on the matter.

They also criticized media reports that suggested Wetangula had acted outside the law and disregarded court orders.

“We note that before the commencement of this Fourth Session of the 13th Parliament, sections of the mainstream media have published misleading headlines and reports in anticipation of the Speaker's guidance regarding the Majority and Minority Party in the National Assembly,” the MPs said.

“Most unfairly, the Speaker has been prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced in the court of public opinion by certain media outlets. Even after issuing guidance to the House, the vilification has continued unabated. In some sections of the media, this has been further amplified to include attacks on the professional standing and reputation of the Speaker as a senior lawyer and jurist.”

The lawmakers emphasized Wetangula’s competence, highlighting that he was duly elected by MPs and should be accorded the respect his position deserves.

Regarding Wetangula’s ruling on Wednesday, the MPs stated that the Speaker had followed the correct procedure. They noted that the issue had been debated in the House before he made his decision.

“The Speaker of the National Assembly was overwhelmingly elected by Members of Parliament in their capacity as representatives of the people. The Speaker enjoys bipartisan support and full confidence in the House. This was clearly illustrated by the various contributions made by Members during the debate on Tuesday,” the MPs said.

“As Members of Parliament who participated in the election of the Speaker, we wish to express our serious disapproval of this veiled narrative, which we suspect is being sponsored by enemies of progress. We shall not allow anyone to downgrade the status of the Speaker.”

The leaders challenged those criticizing Wetangula to come forward and address their issues openly.

The controversy stemmed from Wetangula's ruling on Wednesday, in which he declared Kenya Kwanza as the majority party, despite a court ruling that stripped the ruling party of its majority status. Azimio MPs, led by Suba South MP Millie Odhiambo, accused the Speaker of partisanship and vowed to take further action against his decision. They later walked out of the House in protest.

In his ruling, Wetangula explained that the court did not determine which side held the majority or minority status. He clarified that the status quo remained unchanged, with Kenya Kwanza having 165 members, compared to Azimio's 154.