MP Antony kibagendi has spoken after a High Court ruling ordered his return to Parliament but the process faced new political tension.
The Kitutu Chache South lawmaker now claims that President William Ruto directed Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to ignore the court order and block his reinstatement.
Kibagendi said the plan was meant to keep him away from the National Assembly even after the court lifted the suspension that had barred him from the House. He also alleged that Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma was being used to help enforce the decision inside Parliament.
The dispute began in February 2026 after Kibagendi made strong remarks during a live interview on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show.
In that interview he accused the National Assembly of being compromised and claimed the leadership of the House had allowed outside influence to weaken its independence.
Speaker Wetang’ula reacted quickly to the remarks. On February 17 he ruled that the statements were disrespectful to the House and its leadership. The Speaker then suspended Kibagendi indefinitely from attending parliamentary sittings and from taking part in committee work.
The suspension also removed the first term MP from important committees including the Health Committee. The decision raised concern because a long absence from Parliament can lead to the loss of a seat under Article 103 of the Constitution. Kibagendi was also blocked from entering Parliament buildings.
The MP moved to court to challenge the suspension. Through his lawyer Ombui Ratemo he argued that the decision violated his constitutional rights and denied his voters representation.
He asked the High Court to cancel the Speaker’s ruling and allow him to resume his duties.
High Court Justice Bahati Mwamuye later issued orders suspending the implementation of the Speaker’s decision. The court directed that Kibagendi be reinstated immediately and allowed to attend sittings and committee meetings as usual.
The judge also barred Parliament from taking further disciplinary action against the MP until the case is fully heard. The main petition is expected to be heard on April 9. The ruling was welcomed by several opposition leaders who said it defended the rule of law.
However Kibagendi now says the court order is facing resistance. He claims powerful figures want to delay or frustrate his return to the House despite the ruling. His allegations have sparked debate about whether Parliament will fully respect the authority of the courts in the ongoing dispute.
