Wetang’ula Pleads With Court Over Proceedings Against Him
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has approached the High Court, seeking its intervention to dismiss a contempt of court application filed against him regarding his ruling on the majority party in Parliament.
On Friday, April 4, Wetang’ula, alongside the National Assembly, filed a preliminary objection in the High Court. The objection argued that the contempt of court application was flawed and violated their right to a fair hearing.
The legal teams representing the Speaker and the National Assembly contended that the application was an attempt to introduce a new case and should be struck out. They emphasized that there was no court order violated by Wetang’ula’s actions, as no directive was given that could be enforced through contempt proceedings.
Background to the Controversy
The contempt of court application stems from a ruling made by Wetang’ula, in which he declared the Kenya Kwanza Coalition as the Majority Party in Parliament, and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya as the Minority Party. This declaration came after the 2022 general elections.
However, in February, the High Court ruled that Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition should be recognized as the majority in the National Assembly. The court found that Wetang’ula had violated the law by declaring Kenya Kwanza as the majority.
High Court’s Ruling Against Wetang’ula
The court pointed out that Wetang’ula had ignored a report from the Registrar of Political Parties, which indicated that Azimio had more parties in its coalition than Kenya Kwanza. According to the report, Azimio had 22 parties as of April 2022, while Kenya Kwanza had 15. The court concluded that Wetang’ula’s declaration on October 6, 2022, was unconstitutional.
Speaker’s Appeal and Setback
In response to the High Court ruling, Wetang’ula sought conservatory orders from the Court of Appeal to block the ruling. However, the Court of Appeal refused to grant the orders, saying that such an action would support Wetang’ula’s position that Kenya Kwanza remained the majority. The court also noted that granting the orders would interfere with the ongoing High Court proceedings.
What’s Next?
The High Court has directed Wetang’ula and the National Assembly to file their responses to the contempt of court application and the preliminary objection within ten days. The matter will be heard again on July 17, 2025.
Key Takeaways:
- Speaker Wetang’ula challenges a contempt of court application regarding his ruling on the majority party in Parliament.
- The High Court previously ruled that Azimio la Umoja is the majority party, not Kenya Kwanza.
- Wetang’ula is seeking to block the High Court ruling at the Court of Appeal, but his request was denied.
- The case is set to be heard again in July 2025.
This case highlights ongoing tensions in Kenya’s political landscape and the role of the judiciary in resolving disputes within Parliament.
Wetang’ula Pleads With Court Over Proceedings Against Him
