Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi has been indefinitely barred from Parliament after accusing the legislature of being "auctioned" to the Executive, sparking a fierce debate on the independence of the August House.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has cracked the whip, suspending MP Anthony Kibagendi from all parliamentary precincts and committees effective immediately. The suspension follows Kibagendi's explosive interview on Citizen TV, where he claimed that Parliament had become a mere "appendage of State House," incapable of making decisions independent of the Executive's influence.

Wetang'ula ruled that the remarks brought the House into disrepute, ordering Kibagendi to stay away until he delivers a "properly worded apology" to the Clerk. The Speaker’s decisive action highlights the growing tension between the legislative leadership and backbenchers who feel the House is losing its oversight teeth.

The Cost of Dissent

Kibagendi’s accusation—that the Speaker and his Deputy, Gladys Boss, have "handed over Parliament"—touches on the third rail of Kenyan politics: the separation of powers. By suspending him, the leadership has enforced discipline, but they may have also amplified his message. For the opposition and civil society, Kibagendi is now a martyr for legislative independence.

• The Offense: Claiming on national TV that Parliament has been "auctioned."
• The Punishment: Indefinite suspension pending a formal apology.
• The Context: Growing public frustration with a Parliament perceived as rubber-stamping government policy.

A House Divided

The MP has vowed to lead protests if police interfere with upcoming rallies, further merging his parliamentary rebellion with street-level activism. His suspension is not just a procedural matter; it is a political flashpoint.

"You have no business sitting in an auctioned House," Wetang'ula retorted. Whether Kibagendi apologizes or doubles down will define the next chapter of this legislative drama.