National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has firmly rejected calls to resign from his positions as Speaker and Ford-Kenya party leader following a High Court ruling on February 8, 2025.
The court declared his dual role unconstitutional, ruling that once Wetang’ula became Speaker, he should have ceased to be the leader of Ford-Kenya.
The ruling, delivered by a three-judge bench of Justices John Chigiti, Lawrence Mugambi, and Jairus Ngaah, found that Wetang’ula’s simultaneous leadership of the party and the legislature was unlawful.
Responding through his legal advisor, Benson Milimo, Wetang'ula maintained that his positions remain unchanged, insisting that he will not step down.
“There is absolutely no change of status,” Milimo affirmed.
Wetang'ula also dismissed the ruling, calling it "ordinary" and legally non-binding. He assured both the nation and Ford-Kenya supporters that the court's comments had no practical effect, as no direct ruling had been made regarding his resignation from either office.
Milimo confirmed that they intend to file an appeal against the decision, which he argued hinders Wetang’ula’s ability to carry out his legislative and political duties effectively.
The court ruling arose from a dispute regarding the majority coalition in the National Assembly following the 2022 elections.
Wetang'ula had declared the Kenya Kwanza Coalition as the majority, but Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition contested this claim.
The court sided with Azimio, stating that Wetang’ula lacked sufficient evidence to support his decision, particularly regarding the reassignment of 14 members from other parties to Kenya Kwanza, which ultimately shifted the balance of power.
The ongoing legal battle raises questions about the future functioning of Parliament and its majority coalition.
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