Defiant Wetang’ula given 48 hours ultimatum to resign as Ford Kenya party leader
Through their lawyer Kibe Mungai, the petitioners have given him 48 hours to submit his resignation as the party leader and ensure the decision of the high court that Azimio Coalition is the majority party in the National Assembly is implemented.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has now been given 48 hours to resign as the party leader of Ford-Kenya or be sued for contempt of court.
Through their lawyer Kibe Mungai, the 12 petitioners who successfully petitioned the High Court to strike out Wetang’ula’s ruling that Kenya Kwanza was the majority party and find that he cannot hold his party position while serving as speaker, have demanded that he ensures the decision is implemented or face court action.
The petitioners are Lempaa Suyianka, Kenneth Njagi, Meshack Suba, Teddy Muturi, Amos Wanjala, Stephen Kihonge, Sophie Dola, Winnie Thuo, Victor Ng’ang’a, Simon Lkoma, Caroline Mogaka and Francis Kenya.
In a demand letter to Wetang’ula, the petitioners said Wetang’ula is an interested party and a litigant in the matter that was in court and on which judgment was rendered in their favour.
“Assuming that the Standing orders of the National Assembly empowered the speaker to do something to facilitate the assumption of the offices of majority party by the Azimio Coalition, under Article 50 of the Constitution you have no right to determine any disputed matter because you are an interested party. We expect that as a senior advocate, you will resist the command of your political masters to issue a self-serving rule that might trigger an unnecessary constitutional crisis,” Mungai stated in his demand letter.
“As a litigant, it cannot be your responsibility to determine and enforce a judgment that has made findings and orders against you and your political coalition. This offends the basic rules of natural law,” he added.
The petitioners raised concerns about Wetang’ula’s decision to issue a ruling over the majority/minority party stand-off, adding that it is unlawful and against Article Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.
According to them, it is a gross contempt of the ruling made by Wetang’ula declaring the Kenya Kwanza Coalition as the majority in the the National Assembly.
In a further ruling yesterday, Wetang’ula maintained his position that President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza the majority with 165 legislators against Azimio’s 154 despite the court’s decision which may now trigger a fresh battlefront.
The speaker explained that the court’s decision to squash his 2022 decision on the House majority did not give direction on which side is the majority or minority.
He informed the house that the Office of Registrar of Political Parties had informed him that the composition of Azimio Coalition numbers were inferior to those of the ruling party.
He also defended his continued stay as Ford-Kenya leader, saying it has not affected his impartiality as stated by Azimio MPs led by Suba North’s Millie Odhiambo, who also wanted to be confirmed as Majority Whip.
The Ford Kenya Party leader directed that an appeal be lodged in court over the same.
