The sanctity of the National Assembly has clashed violently with the freedom of speech, resulting in the indefinite expulsion of Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi. In a ruling that has sent shockwaves through the political establishment, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula barred the vocal legislator from the House, declaring him a "stranger" until he apologizes for claiming Parliament had been "auctioned" to the Executive.

The drama began on live television. During an appearance on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show, Kibagendi unleashed a scathing attack on the independence of the legislature. He alleged that the House had become a mere "appendage of State House," incapable of checking the Executive's excesses. He specifically targeted the Speaker and Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss, accusing them of facilitating this state capture.

The Speaker Strikes Back

Wetang’ula’s response was swift and furious. Terming the remarks "reckless" and an assault on the dignity of the institution, he invoked the Standing Orders to protect the House's reputation. "The moment you say the House is auctioned, you are part of the auctioned material," Wetang’ula quipped, before delivering the hammer blow.

The conditions for Kibagendi’s return are humiliatingly strict:

• Indefinite Suspension: He is barred from all plenary sittings, committee meetings, and even his parliamentary office.
• The Apology: He must submit a "properly worded apology" not to the Speaker, but to the House as a collective, via the Clerk. Only if this apology is deemed acceptable will he be readmitted.
• Support from the Bench: Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah backed the expulsion, reinforcing the narrative that discipline must override dissent when it crosses the line into disparagement.

A Constitutional Showdown?

Kibagendi has remained defiant, vowing to challenge the decision in court. His expulsion raises critical questions about the limits of parliamentary privilege and the rights of MPs to criticize the very institution they serve. Is Parliament truly independent, or has Kibagendi been punished for speaking an uncomfortable truth?

For now, the Kitutu Chache South constituents have lost their voice in the assembly. The saga sets a precedent that will likely chill dissent within the House, warning other firebrand MPs that the Speaker’s gavel can silence them just as effectively as the ballot box.