Suba North Member of Parliament (MP) Millie Odhiambo has asked National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to step down as speaker in parliament.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, the MP declared that due to a conflict of interest, Wetang’ula should resign and Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei should take over as speaker.

This, according to her, is the perfect way to honour the court ruling that declared his dual role as Speaker and Ford Kenya Party leader unconstitutional.

“Mr Speaker, I humbly request you to step down and mandate Gladys Boss Shollei in discharging functions as the speaker because of your conflict of interest. Mr Speaker I want to urge that as a parliament we need to obey court rulings and decisions, even if we don’t agree with them,” she stated.

Wetang’ula responds

Responding to Millie’s sentiments, Wetang’ula dismissed her call for his resignation noting that there is no motion presented before the house about his conduct as Speaker.

He explained that it is upon the parliament to conduct proceedings on his conduct and vote to determine his resignation and that neither the court nor other authorities outside parliament can make declarations that affect conduct of business in the National Assembly.

“As to whether the speaker, yours truly, should preside over this proceeding or not; i’ll dispose it off as false, one; there is no motion before the house about the Speaker, number two, I am a senior lawyer in this country, and I am your senior Millie Odhiambo, I have read that judgement and there is no where it requires the speaker to do what you are saying; more particularly, the final findings of that judgement which as a distinguished learned friend we had an opportunity to read through together today, that judgement does not cast aspersions on the speaker presiding on proceedings.

“Yours truly as speaker, I do not debate or vote. I hold a position of honour to preside over your proceeding, anybody who wants to say anything about judgement, I’m going to give you an opportunity and it is going to be upon yours truly to give a ruling on the matter, it must also be made very clear as we listen to each other and that neither the court nor other authority outside this chamber can make declarations that affect the conduct of business here except by voting and the speaker giving you rulings,” he said.

Court ruling

The Milimani High Court on Friday, February 7, 2025, ruled that Wetang’ula ceased to be Ford Kenya party leader immediately he bacame Speaker, and that him being a party leader undermined his roles in parliament.

The court further declared his dual role as Speaker and Ford Kenya Party leader unconstitutional.

On his part, Wetang’ula vowed to challenge the ruling in court insisting that he was not ordered to relinquish either office.

The court also declared the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition as the majority party in the National Assembly.

The judgement was delivered by a three-judge bench iwhich included Justices John Chigiti, Lawrence Mugambi, and Jairus Ngaah.