National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula is expected to give a final decision on the stalemate of which side holds the majority of the National Assembly this afternoon.
He is expected to give a ruling even though he yesterday indicated that the National Assembly cannot be injuncted by the courts.
Yesterday, Chaos erupted when the Azimio-One Kenya Alliance members of parliament occupied the majority side of the parliament following a high court ruling of last week.
Led by the Assembly minority leader and Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed, the opposition disrupted the house proceedings demanding the speaker to comply with the high court ruling and pronounce them the majority.
”The Majority leader in the National Assembly is honorable Junet Mohammed the Member of Parliament for Suna East constituency. I am going to serve the country very diligently,” Junet said in his remarks.
”The only issue is, is it the finding of the court? And it is and if we are to be a country that practices the rule of law let it be appealed. But until then, let it be implemented, let Junet be the leader of the Majority,” Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo stated.
The sentiments of the Azimio legislators came after the Minority Chief Whip and Suba North Member of Parliament Milly Odhiambo informed the Speaker that the Suna East MP and his Kathiani Counterpart Robert Mbui would be the Majority and Deputy Majority leaders respectively.
The dispute in the Assembly stems from last week Friday’s ruling from a three-judge bench of the high court that declared the opposition the Majority overturning the earlier decision by the Speaker.
Further, the Azimio members, led by Millie Odhiambo, demanded Speaker Wetang’ula step aside, arguing that he could not be impartial.
However, Wetang’ula swiftly responded, insisting that the ruling did not contain any specific directives regarding the Speaker’s position.
”The judgment does not cast aspersions on the Speaker presiding,” Wetang’ula stated.
“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 added.
