MOMBASA, Kenya – National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has cautioned Members of Parliament against eroding public trust through absenteeism and unethical conduct, warning that credibility of the House hangs on their integrity and diligence.
Speaking in Mombasa during the official opening of the 3rd Leadership Retreat of the 13th Parliament, Wetang’ula said growing public debate had cast doubt on Parliament’s integrity amid allegations that some MPs were receiving inducements to influence legislation.
“More than at any other time before, doubt has been placed on our integrity as a House. Without integrity, leaders lose credibility among the people they lead. Without integrity, even the best executed roles are without impact,” he told the retreat, themed “Re-invigorating Synergy in Leadership for Accelerated Discharge of the Mandate of the National Assembly.”
The Speaker pointed to the recently enacted Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, which he said provides stronger safeguards against abuse of office.
The law bars legislators from engaging in contracts with the Parliamentary Service Commission, holding conflicting interests, or accepting offers of outside employment.
It also introduces a stricter wealth declaration regime to be overseen by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
“I direct the Clerk to urgently apprise members of the new modalities of submission of the initial declarations to ensure compliance within the prescribed timelines,” Wetang’ula said.
Beyond ethics, Wetang’ula turned his attention to absenteeism, faulting committee chairpersons and rank-and-file MPs for quorum hitches that have recently stalled House business.
He urged members to strike a balance between constituency obligations and parliamentary duties.
“A committee is as effective as its leader. Chairpersons must not only be in the House when any business under their committees is listed but all the time to serve as an example,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei praised the performance of House committees, which she described as the “engine room of Parliament,” citing over 2,100 sittings and 648 Auditor-General reports reviewed during the session.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah warned that widespread misinformation and disinformation threatened to overshadow Parliament’s progress, despite processing 65 Bills, 157 Motions, 296 Statements and more than 2,300 papers during the session.
He noted, however, that 11 critical Bills remained stuck in mediation between the two Houses, some for over a year.
“We must work very closely with both mainstream and digital media to ensure the timely dissemination of factual information to the public,” he said, urging a stronger communications strategy to protect the House’s credibility.
Minority Leader Junet Mohamed urged MPs to prioritise the Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2025, warning that failure to pass it could stall the country’s road programme.
He also called for constructive engagement with the Judiciary on laws declared unconstitutional.
The three-day retreat, now in its third edition under the 13th Parliament, provides legislators with a platform to reflect on performance, build unity in leadership, and chart strategies to restore public confidence in the National Assembly.
