Karua criticises Wetang’ula’s NA majority rule, raises questions over 2022 polls
Written by Inka FM on 27 February 2025
People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has raised fresh concerns over the legitimacy of the 2022 General Election results following a recent High Court ruling that declared Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party as the majority side in the National Assembly.
Speaking on a local TV station on Wednesday, February 27, 2025, Karua expressed her disapproval of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s decision to recognize Kenya Kwanza as the majority coalition. She accused Wetang’ula of dishonesty, stating that Azimio had more elected representatives, including Members of Parliament and governors.
Karua questioned the legitimacy of Kenya Kwanza’s victory in the presidential race, suggesting that Azimio had won the election but was denied the seat through questionable means. She further noted that although the Supreme Court upheld President William Ruto’s win, Azimio did not agree with the ruling despite respecting it.
“Wetang’ula knows that what he did was wrong and dishonest. Kenyans must ask themselves, Azimio had a majority of parliamentarians and governors; is it possible that KK even won the presidency? The answer is no; they got it the way they know, which is crooked. I believe that, and I know that Azimio won those elections but never got the seat; KK got it. I do not believe in the ruling of the Supreme Court; we respected it, but that doesn’t mean we agree with it,” Karua stated.
Court’s ruling
The High Court, in its ruling delivered on Friday, February 7, 2025, overturned Wetang’ula’s earlier decision, stating that the majority party in the National Assembly was determined by the will of Kenyan voters during the August 9, 2022, elections. The judgment was issued by Justices John Chigiti, Jairus Ngaah, and Lawrence Mugambi.
The court found that Wetang’ula violated the Constitution when he reassigned 14 members from different parties to Kenya Kwanza on October 6, 2022, which enabled the coalition to claim majority status. The ruling emphasized that Wetang’ula had no legal authority to shift party affiliations and criticized him for disregarding official documents from the Registrar of Political Parties.
“It is hereby declared that the question as to which party or coalition party is the majority of the National Assembly of the 13th Parliament was determined by the sovereign will of the Kenyan voters during the August 9, 2022, general elections,” the judgment read in part.
Records showed that Azimio had 26 political parties, while Kenya Kwanza had only 15. The court ruled that the Speaker must remain neutral and should not influence parliamentary decisions in favor of any political side. Additionally, the judges noted that Wetang’ula’s continued involvement with Ford Kenya compromised his impartiality as Speaker.
“It is therefore declared that the Honourable Speaker determined, as contained in his communication to the chair made on October 6, 2022, that the majority and minority in the National Assembly violated the Constitution,” the ruling added.
Wetang’ula’s stance
Despite the court’s ruling, Wetang’ula reaffirmed Kenya Kwanza’s majority status in the National Assembly in a new decision on February 12, 2025. He argued that the court had not provided a clear direction on which coalition held the majority and maintained that Kenya Kwanza, with 165 members, remained the dominant side compared to Azimio’s 154 members.
“Arising from the foregoing, the Kenya Kwanza is the majority, and the Azimio is the minority. The leadership of the House remains unchanged,” Wetang’ula declared.
The dispute over the majority status began in 2023 when a group of 12 registered voters challenged Wetang’ula’s decision. They claimed that Azimio had 171 elected MPs, while Kenya Kwanza had 165, making Azimio the rightful majority in the National Assembly.
