Raila says Wetangula's move to challenge housing levy ruling disqualifies him as speaker

Speaking at Kamukunji grounds on Sunday, Raila said Wetangula's action disqualifies him from being a speaker of Kenya's Parliament.

The ODM Leader said the housing levy was taken to parliament and passed by legislators in the watch of Wetangula, and therefore he has no moral authority to appeal its ruling. 

"Wetangula does not qualify to be the speaker of Kenya. No one in the world a speaker does what he has done. He was there when the bill was passed as faulty as it is. He oversaw it," Raila said. 

The National Assembly jointly with Wetangula filed a notice to appeal the court ruling that declared the housing levy as unconstitutional.

The notice expressed dissatisfaction with the Court of Appeal judgement, hence indicating intent to challenge it before the Supreme Court.

“Take notice that the National Assembly and the Speaker of the National Assembly, the 1st and 2nd Applicants in Nairobi Court of Appeal Civil Application No. E577 of 2023 (the "Appellants”), being dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal (Hon. L. Achode, Hon. J. Mativo and Hon. M. Gachoka) delivered at Nairobi 26th January, 2024, intend to appeal to the Supreme Court of Kenya against the whole of the said ruling,” read the notice.

In the Friday ruling, Appellate Court judges Lydia Achode, John Mativo and Paul Gachoka cited public interest in the matter, underscoring the High Court ruling that the housing levy was introduced without a legal framework.