National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has come out fighting against the persistent narrative that the 13th Parliament has been reduced to a mere appendage of the Executive. Addressing MPs at a tense legislative retreat, the Speaker urged lawmakers to grow a "thick skin" against social media criticism while forcefully denying claims that he receives orders from State House to manipulate debates.

The Speaker’s defense comes at a time when public trust in the legislature is waning. Civil society groups and opposition leaders have repeatedly accused the House of passing government bills—including controversial tax measures—without meaningful scrutiny. The perception of Parliament as a "conveyor belt" for Executive policy has fueled online vitriol against MPs, a trend Wetang'ula described as a "double-edged sword."

"We Are Not Puppets"

"The authority of this House rests not only in the laws we pass but in the conduct we exhibit," Wetang'ula told the hushed room of legislators. "There is a false narrative that I receive phone calls instructing me on how to guide debate. I want to state categorically: I am a servant of the House, not a puppet of the Executive. When we agree with the government, it is because the policy is sound, not because we are coerced."

However, the Speaker’s rhetoric clashed with the reality on the floor, where the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition has used its numerical superiority to bulldoze legislation. Wetang'ula acknowledged the pressure but shifted the blame to the nature of modern digital democracy. He warned MPs that "unchecked digital noise" from platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok was designed to weaken their resolve.

• The Social Media Threat: "A single tweet can ignite a firestorm that consumes the truth," Wetang'ula warned. He challenged MPs to differentiate between legitimate public scrutiny and organized cyber-bullying. "Restraint is not weakness. You must not legislate based on who is shouting the loudest on Twitter. You must legislate for posterity."
• The 2026 Agenda: The retreat is meant to set the legislative agenda for the year, with a focus on finalizing the implementation of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). But the elephant in the room remains the looming 2027 election cycle, which threatens to turn the House into a campaign arena rather than a debating chamber.

The Separation of Powers Myth?

Critics argue that Wetang'ula’s speech is an attempt to rewrite history. Since 2022, Parliament has rarely significantly altered any major government proposal. The Speaker’s call for "dignity and decorum" is seen by analysts as a plea for order in a House that is increasingly rowdy and polarized.

As the MPs return to Nairobi, the question remains: Can they reclaim their independence, or is the "rubber stamp" tag now an indelible part of the 13th Parliament’s legacy? For Wetang'ula, the battle is not just about passing laws, but about salvaging the credibility of the institution he leads.