Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses M. Wetang'ula, EGH, MP
The Rt. Hon. (DR.) Moses M. Wetang'ula, EGH, MP is the 8th Speaker
of the National Assembly of Kenya since independence in 1963. He was
elected to the position of Speaker on Thursday, 8th September 2022
during the First Sitting of the National Assembly of the 13th
Parliament.
The Speaker's Journey to Parliament
The Hon. Speaker Wetangula's engagement in public service spans across
forty years. He began his service in the Judiciary as Magistrate in
1982 and served in various stations across the country including
Kithimani, Machakos, Kisii and Rongo. Notably, the Hon. Wetangula
joined the judiciary at the same time with his immediate predecessor,
Hon. Justin Muturi, EGH.
The Honourable Speaker began his political career in 1993 when he was nominated to the 7th Parliament (1993-1997). He served for five cumulative terms between 1993 and 2013 as Member of the National Assembly representing Sirisia Constituency, and as Senator for Bungoma (2013-2022).
During his first term as Nominated Member, he served as a member of the Speaker's Panel (Temporary Deputy Speaker), the House Business Committee as well as the Committee on Defence & Foreign Relations.
He was also an active Member of the CPA Executive Committee. In the 7th Parliament, he led various reforms to the rules of procedure of the House and was the Leader of Kenya delegation to the African,
The Honourable Speaker began his political career in 1993 when he was nominated to the 7th Parliament (1993-1997). He served for five cumulative terms between 1993 and 2013 as Member of the National Assembly representing Sirisia Constituency, and as Senator for Bungoma (2013-2022).
During his first term as Nominated Member, he served as a member of the Speaker's Panel (Temporary Deputy Speaker), the House Business Committee as well as the Committee on Defence & Foreign Relations.
He was also an active Member of the CPA Executive Committee. In the 7th Parliament, he led various reforms to the rules of procedure of the House and was the Leader of Kenya delegation to the African,
Caribbean and Pacific-European Union Joint Assembly (ACP-EU, JPA).
During his first term in the Senate (2013-2022) and part of his second as Senator for Bungoma County, the Hon. Wetangula served as the Senate Minority Leader, and a member of the Senate Business Committee. He also served as a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence & Foreign Relations and the Committee on Finance & Budget.
Prior to 2013, the Hon. Speaker Wetangula held various cabinet portfolios. Between 2011 and 2013, the Hon. Wetangula was the Minister for Trade, and also served as the Chairperson of the African Union Peace & Security Council. Between 2004 and 2007, he served as Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs before being appointed Minster for Foreign Affairs, a position he held up to 2011.
On leadership and nation building, the Hon. Wetangula, while giving his acceptance speech, upon his election as the Speaker of the National Assembly,observed that-
During his first term in the Senate (2013-2022) and part of his second as Senator for Bungoma County, the Hon. Wetangula served as the Senate Minority Leader, and a member of the Senate Business Committee. He also served as a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence & Foreign Relations and the Committee on Finance & Budget.
Prior to 2013, the Hon. Speaker Wetangula held various cabinet portfolios. Between 2011 and 2013, the Hon. Wetangula was the Minister for Trade, and also served as the Chairperson of the African Union Peace & Security Council. Between 2004 and 2007, he served as Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs before being appointed Minster for Foreign Affairs, a position he held up to 2011.
On leadership and nation building, the Hon. Wetangula, while giving his acceptance speech, upon his election as the Speaker of the National Assembly,observed that-
One of the greatest leadership lessons I carry with me to date is
that a leader is a servant of the people. I live by the great words
of the 22nd and 24th US President Grover Cleveland who served
between 1885-1889 and 1893-1897 who once said that '...Office
holders are the agents of the people, not their masters.' These
words always ring true to me and hence moving on, I will be your
(the National Assembly's) servant and agent.
Speaker Wetangula
-September 08, 2022.
Internationally, Hon. Wetangula seeks to continue building and
strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and the long and rich
relationship the Parliament of Kenya has had with key players
including the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA); the
Pan-African Parliament (PAP); the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU); the
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and the OACPS.
Speaker Wetangula is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and
an active member of the Law Society of Kenya. He is an astute debater
with exceptional grasp of parliamentary practices and procedures.
