Speaker Wetang'ula Suspends Ndindi Nyoro for Five Sittings Over KPC Share Claims

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula on Wednesday suspended Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro from the House for five sitting days, after the legislator declined to retract and apologise for remarks linking phone calls from higher offices to the purchase of Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) shares by government agencies.

Wetang'ula ruled that Nyoro's refusal to withdraw the statement amounted to grossly disorderly conduct under the House's Standing Orders.

How it unfolded

The Speaker first challenged Nyoro to substantiate his claim that calls had been made to influence the share purchases, then directed him to apologise. Nyoro declined, insisting that what he had said was the truth and that the truth rides higher than the rules.

Nyoro then asked for two weeks to table evidence. Wetang'ula responded that the remarks had already been struck from the Hansard, leaving nothing to substantiate.

Citing Standing Orders 88, 107 and 107A, which deal with retraction and apology and the consequences of ignoring the Speaker's direction, the Speaker offered Nyoro another chance to apologise. The MP again declined.

Wetang'ula said he was imposing the most lenient punishment available and ordered Nyoro to leave the Chamber while the House continued its business.

Nyoro's reaction

Speaking at a press conference after the ruling, Nyoro said it was unfortunate that he had been suspended for speaking the truth.

He also said that President William Ruto could buy the entire Parliament but would never place any value on some MPs. This is Nyoro's own opinion and was not backed with evidence in the reports.

Background

Recent coverage describes Nyoro as the leader of the People's Party of Kenya, which has joined the united opposition.

This is not his first suspension from the House. In January 2022, he was removed from Parliament for two days for claiming that MPs were being bribed to vote, an allegation he could not substantiate. Earlier, under then-Speaker Justin Muturi, he was suspended for four days over bribery claims relating to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill.