Mbita Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo has requested that National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula step down and allow Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei to lead the House following a High Court verdict last week.
A three-judge bench ruled that Wetang’ula’s decision to declare Kenya Kwanza the majority in the National Assembly was null and void.
The verdict has already caused some division in the House, as there has been uproar at the National Assembly.
Since the MPs entered the House at 2:30pm, there has been a tense atmosphere. When Owen Baya, the Deputy Majority Leader in the National Assembly, stood to lay papers, MPs from the opposition began to heckle and shout.
Millie, who referred to herself as the Majority Whip, then raised a point of order and requested Wetangula to resign, prompting the House to argue.
She went on to choose Junet Mohamed and Robbert Mbui as the Azimio Coalition’s Majority and Deputy Majority Leaders, respectively.However, in his response, Wetang’ula stated that there was no particular move on the floor of the House seeking his dismissal.
He said that the court’s judgment did not require his dismissal.“I have read that judgment with a toothcomb and there nowhere it requires me to resign,” he asserted.
Wetang’ula went on to say that the verdict does not reflect negatively on the speaker who is leading such procedures.
“Neither the court nor any other authority outside this Chamber can make a declaration that affects the conduct of business here except yourselves by voting and the speaker giving you rulings,” he said.
According to Wetangula, MP Patrick Musimba introduced a motion in the 10th Parliament to discuss the conduct and possible resignation of then-Speaker Justin Muturi.
Muturi introduced the motion, MPs voted, and Muturi survived.Wetangula emphasized that he would listen to any proposal presented by an MP and rule equitably.
“I will listen to you and I assure you I will give you a fair finding,” he asserted.
“It is like going to court and telling a judge because the lawyer appearing before him was his classmate he will not be fair. That has no standing in law or fact.”
Junet Mohamed, who had been the Minority Leader, has taken over as Majority Leader and has stated that he will remain there until the legal procedure is complete.
“Today afternoon I just switched seats and I took over the role of the Majority Leader,” he told the House.
