Western MPs caucus defends Speaker Wetang’ula against ‘targeted attacks’

Western Kenya Parliamentary Caucus has come out to defend National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula over what they termed as unjustified attacks on his leadership.

The lawmakers have accused the unnamed individuals of orchestrating a smear campaign against Speaker Wetang’ula, particularly over his ruling that declared the Kenya Kwanza Alliance as the majority party in the National Assembly.

Led by Teso South MP Mary Emase, the legislators dismissed claims of bias and discrimination levelled against the speaker, asserting that her acted strictly within the confines of the Constitution and parliamentary standing orders.

“The Speaker is a neutral arbiter, and his rulings are guided by law. The accusations being leveled against him are not only baseless but also an attempt to undermine the integrity of Parliament,” Emase stated.

According to Emase, there is a deliberate effort to vilify Wetang’ula in the media, citing misleading reports that preceded his guidance on the Majority and Minority Party status in the National Assembly.

“Over the past two weeks, we have witnessed a sustained attempt to malign the office and person of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Masika Wetang’ula. Even before he issued his ruling, sections of the media had already framed a misleading narrative in anticipation of his guidance. Most unfairly, the Speaker has been prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced in the court of public opinion,” She stated.

The MPs further alleged that some media reports had extended their attacks to Wetang’ula’s professional reputation as a senior lawyer and jurist, an approach they described as malicious and unfounded.

They emphasised that Speaker Wetang’ula was overwhelmingly elected by Members of Parliament as their Speaker and continues to enjoy bipartisan support and full confidence from the House.

“This was demonstrated during Tuesday’s debate, where members from across the political divide expressed their support for his leadership. We strongly disapprove of the veiled narrative being pushed by enemies of progress,” the MPs said.

They warned against any attempts to discredit the Speaker’s authority, vowing to push back against what they termed as politically motivated attacks.

“We put those behind this false and misleading campaign on notice. If they have legitimate concerns, let them face us in the open instead of hiding in the shadows,” they stated.

The MPs also cautioned against politicising parliamentary decisions, arguing that such actions threaten the independence of the Legislature. They called on all political players to respect the Speaker’s authority and engage constructively rather than resorting to personal attacks.

The press conference comes amid heightened political tensions, with Azimio leaders accusing Wetang’ula of favoring Kenya Kwanza in parliamentary proceedings.

However, the Western Caucus MPs insist that his rulings remain impartial and firmly rooted in the rule of law.

This even as Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi decried that the debate on the majority and minority status had morphed into disparaging the character of the Speaker despite him enjoying bi-partisan support in the house.

“I think it’s deplorable. And so the most important thing, first of all, coming from the community of Western there’s no way the speaker is going nowhere. That one we have to say. And so even if we do other things, the matter of this Speaker is out completely,” Elachi retorted.

She insisted that Western leaders will not be cowed into silence.

“Protect your people, you must learn to protect your people. That’s what the country has become, it’s not because of anyone. That’s how we have made our country and that’s how we will protect it. That’s how other people are protecting their people,” Elachi noted.