Kibagendi Suspended From Parliament Again Despite Court Order
News Updated: 01 April 2026 12:44 EAT
Kitutu Chache South MP Antony Kibagendi
Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi has been suspended from the National Assembly for a second time, with the House voting on Tuesday to bar him from sittings for 14 days. The motion to suspend him was passed despite a standing High Court injunction that had previously blocked Parliament from removing him from his duties.
The suspension, moved by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, was justified on the grounds of “gross disorderly conduct,” with proponents saying it was required to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House. Critics, however, argue that the motion contravenes the recent court directive.
The move came after Laikipia MP Sarah Korere raised a point of order pointing out that Kibagendi had failed to comply with an earlier directive to issue a formal apology for controversial comments he made about Parliament. Korere contended that without such an apology, the MP had no grounds to remain in the chamber.
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, presiding over the sitting, accepted the motion and ruled that Kibagendi should serve the 14‑day suspension under Standing Order 108(2). This effectively bars the legislator from attending House proceedings, committee meetings and accessing parliamentary precincts.
Kibagendi’s latest removal from the House follows an earlier suspension in February 2026, when he was barred indefinitely after accusing the National Assembly of being “auctioned” to the executive during a televised interview. The Speaker at the time said his remarks undermined the authority of the legislature.
In response to that initial suspension, Kibagendi challenged the ban in court and in March the High Court granted an order suspending the Speaker’s directive, allowing him to return to Parliament pending the determination of his case. The judicial intervention set up a test of separation of powers between the judiciary and Parliament.
Despite the court’s order, Parliament’s recent action to suspend him again has drawn criticism from some lawmakers and legal observers, who argue that the House should not proceed while a related petition is before the courts. They contend the move could escalate tensions between state institutions.
Kibagendi has not yet publicly detailed his next steps following the latest suspension, but it is widely expected he will pursue further legal avenues to challenge the decision and assert his parliamentary rights. During prior proceedings, he signalled his intention to exhaust judicial review.
Political reactions have been mixed, with some MPs questioning the propriety of punitive action against a colleague for remarks made outside the chamber and others defending the House’s authority to discipline members for conduct they deem injurious to its standing.
The unfolding saga underscores broader debates in Kenyan politics over parliamentary autonomy, freedom of expression by elected officials and the boundaries of judicial oversight — issues that are likely to persist as the legal battle over Kibagendi’s suspension continues.
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FELIX MAKONA
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