Kathiani Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Mbui has raised concerns over alleged bias in the National Assembly, accusing Speaker Moses Wetang’ula of systematically silencing opposition voices on the floor of the House. Speaking during an interview with NTV, Mbui claimed that dissenting MPs are being deliberately sidelined, with the Speaker giving speaking opportunities primarily to pro-government legislators.
Mbui explained that parliamentary debate slots are awarded through a digital card system, where MPs indicate interest in speaking by inserting their cards. The Speaker, who has exclusive access to the system’s screen, then selects which MP gets the microphone.
“It’s only the Speaker who can see on his screen. You put your card and indicate that you are interested in saying something. The Speaker sees all members on the screen and decides who speaks,” Mbui stated. “Many times, members aligned to me hardly get an opportunity to speak.”
He accused Speaker Wetang’ula of using this discretionary power to suppress the opposition, saying, “The alternative voice is muzzled in Parliament because the leadership knows if we give so and so an opportunity, he is likely to say something that we don’t want to hear.”
Mbui expressed concern that such selective treatment undermines the democratic role of Parliament and weakens the opposition’s ability to provide checks and balances. He urged the Speaker and House leadership to uphold fairness and allow all MPs, regardless of political affiliation, to contribute to debates.
“If the Speaker decides to lean on one side and ignore members leaning to the other side, it becomes very difficult. It even weakens the opposition more,” he added.
The allegations come amid growing frustration from opposition leaders, who have increasingly accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of stifling dissent. Mbui’s remarks add to the mounting calls for reforms in how parliamentary proceedings are managed, particularly around transparency and equitable access to the floor of the House.
As the political climate in Kenya continues to evolve, the role of impartiality within Parliament remains under sharp focus, with critics calling for institutional fairness to preserve democratic governance
