Wetang’ula finds solace in House rules

The National Assembly has dismissed a petition by the Grassroot Oversight Initiative seeking to have National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula kicked out of office, due procedural limitations under parliamentary rules.
In a letter dated 7 February 2025, Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge informed the petitioners that parliamentary rules do not allow the House to discuss the Speaker’s conduct unless a substantive motion is introduced by a sitting Member of Parliament.
He cited Standing Order 87(1), which provides that officers whose removal are dependent on Parliament require a motion. It states that.
“neither the personal conduct of the President, nor the conduct of the Speaker of any judge, nor the judicial conduct of any other person performing judicial functions… or the conduct of the holder of an office whose removal from such office is dependent upon a decision of the House shall be referred to adversely, except upon a specific substantive Motion of which at least three days’ notice has been given.”
According to the clerk’s letter, the decision was arrived after noting that the provision the petitioners depended on.
“From the foregoing, we advise that only a Member who is aggrieved by the conduct of the Speaker can move the House to discuss the conduct complained of by way of a substantive Motion. In the circumstances, your claim is inadmissible,” the letter stated.
The clerk explained that only an MP has the legal standing to move such a motion, making the Grassroot Initiative’s claim inadmissible.
The letter underscores the procedural barriers that shield Wetang’ula from direct censure by the public.
The Grassroot Oversight Initiative, which had sought to challenge the Speaker’s conduct, is yet to respond to the National Assembly’s decision.
The group through Nakuru activist Laban Omusundi wanted Wetang’ula kicked out for engaging in political activities that breach the principles of impartiality and independence expected of his office.
He claimed that Wetang’ula had compromised the independence of Parliament by allegedly acting as an appendage of the Executive as well as made controversial public statements during Ruto’s tour in Western Kenya in January 2025.
He also accused Wetang’ula of lacking impartiality, citing his support for the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in September 2024.
The move comes at a time when Azimio lawmakers are pushing for his removal from office following his decision to declare Kenya Kwanza, headed by President William Ruto, the majority party in the House.
Addressing a news conference last week, Leader of Minority Junet Mohamed and Minority whip Millie Odhiambo accused the Speaker of favouring Kenya Kwanza in parliamentary proceedings.
When asked if they would impeach the Speaker, Millie Odhiambo, who is also the Suba North MP, responded.
“Yes, we just said it.”
The duo claimed that their decision to have Wetang’ula kicked out is based on the fact that he had contradicted himself on a number of issues.
“It is going to be messy, noisy and it is going to have casualties. From the way Parliament is being handled it is getting smelly, we don’t see any broad-based action,” Junet Mohammed warned.