National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula is facing contempt of court proceedings after Vocal Africa accused him of disregarding orders restricting the use of his constitutional office in campaigns supporting president William Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.
The rights organisation filed the application at the Milimani High Court on Monday, arguing that Wetang’ula continued participating in political mobilisation activities despite conservatory orders issued last week.
Justice David Mburu certified the contempt application as urgent and directed that it be served immediately. The matter will return to court on Thursday, July 16, for further directions.
Senate speaker Amason Kingi, who was covered by the initial orders alongside Wetang’ula, has also been named in the contempt application.
“As Vocal Africa, we have today filed contempt of court proceedings against Speaker Wetang’ula for defying court orders,” the organisation said.
“Last week, the court issued conservatory orders for both Speakers to desist from engaging in active politics. However, despite the court order, Speaker Wetang’ula still went ahead and participated in several political activities.”
The allegations have not been determined by the court. Wetang’ula and the other respondents will have an opportunity to formally respond before any decision is made on whether the orders were breached.
Justice Mburu issued the initial conservatory orders on July 8 following a constitutional petition filed by Vocal Africa challenging the involvement of the two Speakers in organised partisan campaigns.
The court temporarily restrained them from using the “authority, prestige, dignity, influence or incidents” of their offices to organise, promote, endorse, lead or participate in campaigns supporting or opposing a political party, coalition or candidate.
The order did not expressly prohibit the Speakers from holding personal political views. It instead restricted them from relying on the authority and public resources attached to their offices to advance partisan political interests while the case is pending.
Vocal Africa claims Wetang’ula has attended several Kenya Kwanza events at which he allegedly mobilised voters to support president Ruto’s second-term bid.
The organisation cited political meetings in Eldoret, Likoni and Emuhaya, where Wetang’ula allegedly called on residents to register as voters and back Ruto in the August 2027 General Election.
The lobby group argues that such involvement creates a conflict between the speaker’s political interests and Parliament’s constitutional responsibility to independently oversee the Executive.
“The Constitution of Kenya created a Parliament that would stand beside the Executive and not behind it,” Vocal Africa states in the main petition.
“It entrusted the Speakers of Parliament with constitutional authority, not partisan advantage; with institutional stewardship, not electoral mobilisation.”
Vocal Africa is also seeking permanent orders barring Wetang’ula and Kingi from using parliamentary staff, official vehicles, security officers, communication platforms or other public resources for political mobilisation.
Besides the two Speakers, the petition names the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Attorney General as respondents.
The lobby group wants the court to determine whether the speakers’ alleged political activities violate constitutional provisions on leadership, integrity, impartiality and the institutional independence of Parliament.
It has also asked the court to direct the electoral and anti-corruption agencies to investigate the alleged violations.
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