The National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula is under fire. This follows his ruling that reinstated Kenya Kwanza Alliance as the majority party in the House, despite a judgement of the High Court that declared the Azimio La Umoja – One Kenya Coalition as the majority party.

The Speaker added that he had not received any communication from Azimio La Umoja or Kenya Kwanza replacing their leadership in the House, hence, the existing leadership of the House remains unchanged.

After the communication from the Speaker, Azimio La Umoja affiliated Members of Parliament (MPs) walked out in protest and addressed the media. Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo said that she wrote a letter to the Speaker withdrawing their members from the House Business Committee.

Already, more than 35 MPs affiliated with Raila Odinga’s Azimio party are planning to oust Wetang’ula. They accused him of failing to abide by the Court ruling that nullified an earlier order communicated on October 6, 2022, that declared Kenya Kwanza Alliance as the majority side in the National Assembly.

On February 13, Kathiani MP Robert Mbui accused Wetang’ula of being biased against Azimio-allied legislators. He added that the Speaker should uphold his arbiter role and veer from showing partiality as MPs convene for House meetings. “I think that the Speaker should also learn how to respect MPs. When we had the debate on the first day, he was very harsh and, in my opinion, fairly disrespectful. As a Speaker, you are not supposed to interfere with a member’s contribution,” Mbui said during an interview on Citizen TV.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo said Wetang’ula can avoid impeachment only by choosing between serving as Speaker or remaining a party leader. “There is an MP who is already willing to bring an impeachment motion against Speaker Moses Wetang’ula. But it’s as simple as this – either let go of being the leader of Ford Kenya or remain the Speaker,” she said in an interview with KTN.   

Despite the High Court’s ruling delivered on February 7 by a three-judge bench finding that Wetang’ula’s dual role as Speaker and leader of Ford Kenya was unconstitutional, Wetang’ula said he would not step down from his position in the National Assembly. 

Through his legal advisor, Benson Milimo, Wetang’ula clarified that the Court did not order him to relinquish either office. “I want to assure the nation and the Ford Kenya fraternity that there is absolutely no cause for alarm. What the Court did was make comments – what the law terms as ‘obiter dictum’ which are non-binding and have no consequential effect,” he said in a press statement.

Wetang’ula emphasised that at no point did the Court rule that he should vacate his position as Speaker or cease being the party leader of Ford Kenya’s party leader.  

According to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, in a letter dated February 11 that was tabled by the Deputy Speaker in the National Assembly, Azimio La Umoja – One Kenya Coalition Party was registered on April 21, 2022, and comprised 21 parties.

The parties are Jubilee Party, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Wiper Democratic Movement, Kenya African National Union (KANU), National Rainbow Coalition, Muungano Party, Democratic Action Party Kenya, United Party of Independent Alliance, United Progressive Alliance, Kenya Union Party, United Democratic Party, Movement for Democracy and Growth, Kenya Reform Party, Chama Cha Uzalendo, Party for Peace and Democracy, National Liberal Party, People’s Trust Party, Ubuntu People’s Forum, Party of National Unity, Labour Party of Kenya, and the Party for Growth and Prosperity.  

The Kenya Kwanza Alliance was registered on June 3, 2022, and comprised 11 political parties: United Democratic Alliance, Amani National Congress, Forum for Restoration of Democracy – Kenya, Chama Cha Kazi, Communist Party of Kenya, The Service Party, Tujibebe Wakenya Party, Farmers Party, Devolution Party of Kenya, Economic Freedom Party, and the Umoja na Maendeleo Party.

Additionally, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties indicates that a post-election coalition agreement between the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and four additional parties was entered into on September 5, 2022. The parties include the Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), the National Agenda Party of Kenya, the Grand Dream Development Party, and Chama Cha Mashinani.

The Registrar of Political Parties also said five parties had exited the Azimio La Umoja – One Kenya Coalition Party. These include the People’s Liberation Party (formerly the National Rainbow Coalition – Kenya) on December 6, 2024; Maendeleo Chap Chap Party on January 25, 2024; Devolution Empowerment Party on April 11, 2023; United Democratic Movement on November 22, 2023, and Pamoja African Alliance on February 27, 2023.

The Amani National Congress (ANC) is said to be in the process of dissolving the party to collaborate with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

The Movement for Development and Growth (MDG) had initiated a process of exiting Azimio La Umoja but is yet to finalise its exit from the coalition political party. Additionally, as of Tuesday, February 11, the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA), Maendeleo Chap Chap Party (MCCP), United Democratic Movement (UDM), and the National Ordinary People Empowerment Union (NOPEU) were not members of any registered coalition or coalition political party.

The current composition of the National Assembly by individual political parties.