The National Assembly and the Judiciary are set to hold a high-level retreat in Mombasa this week, with Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula saying the two arms of government must face each other directly to strengthen cooperation while safeguarding independence, this is according to the notice and a post shered by parliament on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 on Parliament of Kenyas’ official socials.

The three-day retreat, themed “Renewing Leadership Synergy and Comity for Responsible Discharge of the Mandate of the National Assembly”, will bring together House leadership and senior members of the Judiciary, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

Speaking in Parliament ahead of the meeting, Wetang’ula challenged MPs to reflect on their constitutional responsibilities and uphold the highest standards of integrity.
“Our integrity must be beyond reproach; we must be like Caesar’s wife whom nobody could suspect,” the Speaker told the House.

He emphasised that the retreat will not just be about reviewing resolutions from earlier meetings but also about addressing the growing tension between Parliament and the Judiciary.
“We will have a colloquium with the Judiciary to discuss our relationship so that we can face each other and ask each other hard questions,” Wetang’ula explained.

The retreat will be the third of its kind, following a similar one in January this year, which resolved to strengthen synergy between the two arms of government. Day one will focus on reviewing progress made since those resolutions, particularly in implementing reforms within the House.

On Friday, the climax of the retreat will feature a rare joint session between MPs and judges. Wetang’ula said the engagement will strike a balance between cooperation and institutional independence.
“The National Assembly plays a sacrosanct role of appropriating funds for the Judiciary. At the same time, the laws we pass often impact the courts directly. That is why dialogue between us is not just important but necessary,” the Speaker noted.

The panel discussion, to be chaired by Wetang’ula, will feature distinguished leaders including Dr. Patrick Matibini, former Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia and retired High Court judge, Supreme Court Judge Lady Justice Njoki Ndung’u, and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo.The panel will examine the delicate balance between judicial oversight and parliamentary privilege.

Wetang’ula maintained that both arms of government must learn to collaborate without undermining each other’s independence.
“We must find synergy, but that synergy must respect boundaries. Oversight is not interference, and independence is not isolation. Both Parliament and the Judiciary exist to serve Kenyans, not to fight turf wars,” he said.

The retreat is also expected to address issues affecting the internal operations of Parliament, with the final deliberations set to be shared with all MPs when they resume from the month-long recess.

As the House and Judiciary prepare for the face-to-face session, Wetang’ula said Kenyans expect nothing less than leadership that protects institutions and strengthens democracy.
“The public must see us working in harmony, not in conflict. That is the essence of responsible leadership,” he said.