National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has sharply criticised political maneuvering and judicial delays, saying they are major barriers to Kenya’s development agenda.
Speaking at the 8th KEPSA-Speaker’s Roundtable in Mombasa on Friday, he warned that “one reckless tweet” and a culture of frequent court injunctions are stalling crucial national projects.
The Speaker opened his address by paying tribute to Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga, whom he described as “the genesis of these roundtable meetings,” and called for a minute of silence.
He expressed optimism about Kenya’s prospects, stating, “I have visited each of the 54 African countries and none is better than Kenya,” and highlighted a United Nations Development Programme report that recognised Kenya’s workforce as “the strongest and most developed in the entire continent.”
Wetang’ula illustrated this with the success story of a 38-year-old from Meru who now leads TikTok operations in Europe.
Despite these strengths, Wetang’ula said the country faces serious obstacles to becoming a first-world nation.
He questioned how Kenya can industrialise and compete globally while hindered internally, citing lower electricity generation compared to Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam as an example.
The Speaker also recounted instances where key initiatives were obstructed, including government plans for a nuclear power plant, which he said led “an MP [to] threaten to commit suicide,” and projects like the UNEP headquarters, KICC, JKIA, and a proposed Adani Holdings development that was shelved despite no apparent wrongdoing.
He argued that slow engagement with international financial institutions, dominated by lengthy procedures and excessive paperwork, forces the country to rely on private sector solutions. He compared this to China’s rapid infrastructure development, which he attributed to more decisive action.
A significant portion of his speech focused on the judiciary. Wetang’ula announced plans to bring together KEPSA, Parliament, and the courts in a new roundtable to ensure they “appreciate that injunctions are not a cake to be dished to anyone holding a plate.”
He warned that painstaking efforts to establish rule-based international trade over two decades could be undone by “one reckless tweet” and expressed disappointment that the courts sometimes contribute to stagnation.
He also criticised litigants who cite “nonexistent sections of the law” and judges who issue injunctions only to “keep the file for six months,” suggesting some cases involve parties acting as “surrogates...working for competitors.”
Calling for patriotism and bold action, Wetang’ula, who says he is “the most sued” official with 79 cases, pledged that Parliament will continue to “do what is right,” even if it attracts public criticism.
He urged all stakeholders to challenge laws with facts and to reserve court action as a last measure to push the country forward.
