National Assembly Speaker, Dr. Moses Wetang’ula Speaking during the official opening of the 3rd Leadership Retreat of the 13th Parliament in Mombasa. Photo PBU 
By Andrew Mbuva
National Assembly Speaker, Dr. Moses Wetang’ula has cautioned Members of Parliament against eroding public trust through unethical conduct, absenteeism, and disregard for constitutional values.
Speaking during the official opening of the 3rd Leadership Retreat of the 13th Parliament in Mombasa, themed “Re-invigorating Synergy in Leadership for Accelerated Discharge of the Mandate of the National Assembly”, Wetang’ula stressed that the credibility of Parliament rests squarely on the integrity and commitment of its members.
He expressed concern over recent public debate that has cast doubt on Parliament’s integrity, with allegations of legislators soliciting inducements to influence legislation.
“I treat these allegations as rumours, but as an institution, we cannot afford to ignore the growing perception that corruption is infiltrating the law-making process,” he said.
Wetang’ula warned that leadership without integrity is meaningless.
“Without integrity, leaders lose credibility among the people they lead. Without integrity, even the best executed roles are without impact. Without integrity, leadership fails,” he told MPs, reminding them that leadership is a sacred calling anchored in Article 73 of the Constitution.
The Speaker highlighted the recent enactment of the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, which strengthens safeguards against abuse of office and enhances accountability in Parliament.
The law prohibits MPs from granting undue preferential treatment, being influenced by outside employment, or engaging in contracts with the Parliamentary Service Commission. It also bars legislators from holding interests in entities contracting with the Commission and introduces an enhanced wealth declaration system under EACC oversight.
“In this regard, I direct the Clerk to urgently apprise Members of the new modalities of submission of the initial declarations to ensure compliance within the prescribed timelines,” he directed.
Turning to House operations, Wetang’ula decried quorum hitches and absenteeism that have increasingly stalled parliamentary business. He faulted Committee Chairpersons for failing to lead by example.
“A committee is as effective as its leader. Chairpersons must not only be in the House when any business under their committees is listed but all the time, to serve as an example to members of their committees who skip House sessions,” he said.
While acknowledging MPs’ heavy constituency demands, Wetang’ula reminded them that parliamentary work must take priority when the House is in session.
“We must avoid unnecessary delays in transacting House business. For the House to deliver on its mandate, diligent attendance is key,” he warned.
The Speaker expressed optimism that the Mombasa retreat will yield concrete strategies to tackle absenteeism, strengthen compliance with integrity laws, and restore public confidence in Parliament.
Now in its third edition under the 13th Parliament, the retreat serves as a platform for MPs to review their performance, foster unity, and set actionable resolutions for more effective leadership.
