Court certifies urgent bid to compel Wetang’ula to answer contempt claims
By Zipporah Ngwatu, July 13, 2026A High Court in Nairobi has certified as urgent an application seeking to have National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula found in contempt of court orders.
In the orders issued by Judge David Mburu earlier (July 8, 2026), National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and his Senate counterpart, Amason Kingi, were barred from participating in partisan politics pending the hearing and determination of an application filed against them.
On Monday, 13 July 2026, Mburu issued the certification after a Human Rights organisation, Vocal Africa, filed the application, arguing that Wetang’ula had deliberately and wilfully disobeyed the conservatory orders.
The organisation wants the Speaker to be compelled to appear before the court, on a date to be set by the judge, to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt of the conservatory orders.
In the orders, Justice Mburu also temporarily barred the two Speakers from endorsing political candidates, campaigning for any political party or aligning themselves with any political coalition while serving in their current offices.
The orders further restrained Wetang’ula and Kingi from using the authority of their constitutional offices to promote or conduct organised partisan political campaigns.
“Pending the inter partes hearing of this application, a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the 1st and the 2nd respondents (Wetang’ula and Kingi), while serving as the speaker of the National Assembly and the Senate, respectively, from using, invoking, relying upon or benefiting from the authority, prestige, dignity, influence or incidents of their constitutional offices in the organisation, promotion, endorsement, leadership or conduct of organised partisan political campaigns in support of or opposition to any political party, political coalition or political candidate,” Justice Mburu had ordered.
However, Vocal Africa claims that Wetang’ula defied the court orders shortly after they were issued by urging members of the public in Narok North to support President William Ruto’s re-election in the August 2027 General Election.
“At Narok North speaking to Enarau Women Group at Enarau Primary School on July 10, 2026, which he invoked his constitutional office and publicly urged members of the public to support the re-election of His Excellency President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza Administration,” the petitioner states in the new application.