NAIROBI, Kenya — National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has ordered the removal of Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi from parliamentary sittings after remarks made during a televised interview in which the legislator alleged that the House had been “auctioned” to the government.
Speaking in the chamber on Tuesday, February 17, Mr Wetangula ruled that the comments amounted to bringing Parliament into disrepute and directed that Mr Kibagendi be excluded from the sittings of the National Assembly of Kenya until he issues a formal apology.
The Speaker further barred the MP from accessing parliamentary premises, including his office, and from participating in committee meetings.
Speaker’s ruling
“For you, as a member, to say that the House has been auctioned, then you have no business sitting in an auctioned House. Hon Kibagendi, you will be excluded from the sittings of this house until you bring a properly worded apology not to me, but the house, for bringing the house to disrepute,” Wetangula declared.
He added that the exclusion would remain in force pending a written apology addressed to the institution rather than to the Speaker personally.
The Speaker also emphasised his independence in making the ruling.
“Since I came to this house, nobody has ever called me your speaker to tell me what to do or not to do, and if anybody did, I would reject it.
“I am human, I would have made an erroneous ruling, a ruling that displeases anybody, but the rulings that are made here are but raised by the law. I may misinterpret the law as many lawyers do, but that is a right I have,” he stated.
Political context
Mr Kibagendi’s remarks were made during a television interview in which he criticised the conduct of the House and accused its leadership of undermining its independence.
His suspension comes amid heightened political tensions within Parliament, where opposition legislators have repeatedly accused the executive of exerting influence over legislative proceedings, claims that parliamentary leadership has consistently denied.
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The Majority Leader, Kimani Ichung’wah, backed the Speaker’s decision, saying it was necessary to safeguard the dignity and authority of the House.
Parliamentary discipline and precedent
Under Kenya’s parliamentary standing orders, the Speaker has authority to maintain order and discipline members whose conduct is deemed disorderly or defamatory towards the institution.
While temporary suspensions are not uncommon in the National Assembly, outright exclusion pending apology is typically reserved for remarks considered injurious to the integrity of Parliament.
Mr Wetangula also urged senior legislators to guide first-term MPs on engaging with the media, noting that public statements can have institutional consequences.
The development underscores ongoing debate over parliamentary independence and the limits of political criticism within legislative forums.
