Moses Wetang’ula, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Amason Kingi are facing a constitutional petition that could redefine the role of parliamentary leaders in Kenya’s electoral politics.
The High Court of Kenya has issued temporary orders barring the two Speakers from participating in campaigns to support President **William Ruto>’s 2027 re-election bid by using the authority and influence of their constitutional offices.
The interim orders prohibit Wetang’ula and Kingi from using the powers, prestige, influence, or status of their offices to organize, conduct, endorse, or participate in political campaign activities until the case is heard and determined.
The petition was filed by the civil society organization Vocal Africa, which argues that the Speakers’ involvement in political campaigns undermines Parliament’s independence and violates the constitutional separation between Parliament and the Executive.
The court certified the matter as urgent and directed both Speakers to file their responses within three working days.
The case is scheduled for mention on July 16 for further directions.
Also named as respondents are the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission> (IEBC), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission> (EACC), and the Office of the Attorney General.
In its petition, Vocal Africa argues that the Constitution established Parliament as an independent arm of government responsible for overseeing the Executive, and therefore its leaders should not be seen as political campaign leaders.
“The Constitution created a Parliament that would stand alongside the Executive, not behind it. It entrusted the Speakers with constitutional authority not for the political benefit of any party, but to protect and lead Parliament as an independent institution,” the court documents state.
The organization alleges that between June and early July this year, Wetang’ula attended political rallies in Likoni (Mombasa County), Emuhaya (Kakamega County), and Eldoret (Uasin Gishu County), where he reportedly urged the public to support President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Kingi is similarly accused of participating in political mobilization meetings in Mombasa and other parts of the Coast region.
According to the petitioners, these actions have created a conflict between the Speakers’ constitutional duty to preside over Parliament impartially and their involvement in partisan political activities, thereby undermining public confidence in Parliament’s independence.
“The constitutional oversight role of Parliament cannot be effectively exercised if the officers entrusted with leading both Houses publicly present themselves as political campaign leaders or advocates for the re-election of the very government Parliament is constitutionally mandated to oversee and hold accountable,” the petition states.
Vocal Africa maintains that it is not challenging the Speakers’ personal political beliefs. Rather, it objects to the use of the authority, influence, and prestige of their constitutional offices in election campaigns.
The organization is asking the court to issue a permanent order prohibiting the two Speakers from using their offices for political campaigning, declare that such conduct violates the Constitution and the principles of good governance, integrity, and public trust, and direct the IEBC and EACC to investigate the allegations and submit their findings to the court.
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