Wetang’ula’s dual function as Speaker and party leader of Ford Kenya was ruled to be unconstitutional by the High Court earlier in the day, which also found that President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition was not the majority party in the National Assembly.
Wetang’ula replied to the court’s decision by stating he would not resign from his senior position in the National Assembly and his party, through his legal counsel Benson Milimo.
Milimo stated, “There is absolutely no change of status. Dr. Moses Masika Wetang’ula remains the party leader of Ford Kenya as well as the Speaker of the National Assembly.”
Wetang’ula also dismissed the court’s decision as “ordinary,” stating that it had no bearing on the current circumstances.
“I would like to reassure the country and the Ford Kenya community that there is no reason for concern.”Per incuriam is the legal term for what the court did, which was to make comments. remarks that are not legally binding and have no bearing on anything.
“The court never said that the Speaker should stop being the Speaker or that the Speaker should stop being the leader of the Ford Kenya Party,” he continued.
Furthermore, Milimo declared that they would challenge the ruling that puts Wetang’ula in a difficult position to carry out his political and legislative responsibilities.
The latest court ruling was a product of a dispute that arose regarding which coalition held the majority following the 2022 general elections.
By Nairobi