The National Assembly has decisively rejected an attempt by the Grassroot Oversight Initiative to move a motion aimed at censuring Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, citing clear procedural constraints under parliamentary rules.
In a formal communication sent on February 7, 2025, Samuel Njoroge, the Clerk of the National Assembly, informed the petitioning group that the rules governing parliamentary procedure do not permit any motion to discuss the Speaker’s conduct unless it is raised by a sitting Member of Parliament (MP).
The letter outlined that only an MP who is personally aggrieved by the Speaker’s actions is legally allowed to file such a motion, making the Grassroot Initiative’s petition inadmissible.
“We have thoroughly reviewed the Constitution, the Petition to Parliament (Procedure) Act of 2012, and the National Assembly Standing Orders. Standing Order 87(1) clearly stipulates that any debate on the Speaker’s conduct can only be initiated through a substantive motion with at least three days’ notice,” the letter read.
The Clerk emphasized that the legal standing to challenge the Speaker’s conduct rests exclusively with MPs, and since the petition did not originate from one of them, the request was ineligible for further consideration.
This move effectively quashes any possibility of the Grassroot Oversight Initiative directly influencing the National Assembly’s internal processes or the leadership of Wetang’ula.
The decision also reinforces the procedural protections that safeguard the Speaker from external pressures, reiterating that only Parliament members can engage in such motions.
Despite the setback, the Grassroot Oversight Initiative has yet to comment publicly on the rejection.
The group’s efforts have been part of a broader push for greater transparency and accountability in leadership, but without support from a sitting MP, it seems the initiative will struggle to make headway in the legislative arena.
The ruling also serves as a reminder of the tightly controlled environment within the National Assembly, where the power to raise questions or initiate motions regarding the Speaker’s conduct is carefully managed through specific parliamentary procedures.
By upholding these rules, the National Assembly has once again demonstrated its commitment to maintaining order and autonomy in its internal affairs, and placed clear limits on external groups attempting to influence its operations.
