Kathiani MP Robert Mbui has come out swinging against National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, accusing him of deliberately sidelining opposition voices in Parliament.
In an interview on NTV, Mbui claimed that the Speaker routinely gives speaking opportunities to pro-government lawmakers while denying MPs aligned with the opposition including himself a fair chance to contribute to debates on the floor of the House.
“The Speaker is very selective about who gets to speak,” Mbui said. “Many times, members on my side people I closely work with hardly get a chance. We slot our cards like everyone else, but we’re simply overlooked.”
He explained that speaking slots in Parliament are controlled through an electronic card system where MPs signal their interest to speak. However, the final decision rests solely with the Speaker, who views the queue on a private screen and then decides who gets the microphone.
“It’s only the Speaker who can see who’s requested to speak,” Mbui noted. “You put in your card, it registers your interest, but it’s up to him to pick who gets the floor. And more often than not, opposition MPs are ignored.”
Mbui warned that this form of selective moderation was not only undemocratic but also weakened Parliament’s ability to hold the government accountable.
“The alternative voice is being shut out,” he said. “Leadership knows that if certain people are allowed to speak, they might raise uncomfortable truths and that’s exactly what Parliament is meant to do. It’s supposed to be a place for all voices, not just one side.”
He urged Speaker Wetang’ula and the House leadership to embrace impartiality and allow all MPs regardless of political leaning a fair platform to air their views.
“If Parliament becomes one-sided, it undermines the entire democratic process,” he added. “Ignoring opposition voices doesn’t make them disappear it only deepens the division and weakens the role of Parliament as a whole.”
