Censure Motion Against Speaker Wetang’ula Declared Unprocedural

The National Assembly has dismissed an attempt by the Grassroot Oversight Initiative to introduce a censure motion against Speaker Moses Masika Wetang’ula, citing procedural limitations within parliamentary rules.
In a letter dated February 7, 2025, Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge informed the petitioners that parliamentary procedures do not permit discussions on the Speaker’s conduct unless a substantive motion is formally introduced by a sitting Member of Parliament.
“We have perused the Constitution, the Petition to Parliament (Procedure) Act, 2012, and the National Assembly Standing Orders and note that Standing Order 87(1) provides that the conduct of the Speaker can only be discussed through a substantive motion with at least three days’ notice,” the letter stated.
The Clerk further clarified that only an MP who is personally aggrieved by the Speaker’s actions has the legal standing to move such a motion, rendering the petition by the Grassroot Oversight Initiative inadmissible.
This response effectively halts the group’s efforts to challenge the Speaker’s leadership through external petitions. The decision underscores the procedural safeguards that shield the Speaker from direct censure by the public, reaffirming that only Members of Parliament have the authority to initiate such a debate within the House.
The Grassroot Oversight Initiative, which had sought to challenge Speaker Wetang’ula’s leadership, has yet to respond to the National Assembly’s ruling. However, the rejection signals a procedural deadlock for any external organizations attempting to influence internal parliamentary affairs without direct legislative support.