National Assembly Speaker and Ford Kenya Party leader Moses Wetang’ula has suffered yet another political and legal setback, coming just days after his party lost the Chwele–Kabuchai Ward by-election to independent candidate Eric Wekesa.
The defeat, which rattled Ford Kenya’s grip in Bungoma County, has been widely interpreted as an early warning sign of shifting political dynamics in the region.
As Wetang’ula was still managing the political fallout from the by-election loss, the Court of Appeal dealt him a fresh blow by halting ongoing High Court proceedings in his defamation case against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The ruling hands the broadcaster a temporary win as it seeks to advance its appeal on an earlier rejected request for judicial assistance from a UK court.
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The long-running dispute stems from a 2015 BBC Panorama documentary that linked Wetang’ula to alleged bribery involving British American Tobacco (BAT).
Wetang’ula later sued for defamation, arguing that the programme damaged his character and integrity.
To strengthen its defence, the BBC requested evidence from the United Kingdom, but the High Court dismissed the application twice citing lack of specificity on the witnesses and documents required. The broadcaster then filed an appeal and simultaneously sought a suspension of the High Court trial.
Wetang’ula opposed the move, accusing the BBC of attempting to delay justice and insisting that the appeal held no substantive grounds.
He argued that the High Court should proceed uninterrupted to ensure timely determination of the matter.
However, the Court of Appeal disagreed. In its decision, the bench ruled that the broadcaster had raised arguable issues deserving full consideration.
The judges added that allowing the High Court process to continue while the appeal is pending could render the appellate case meaningless.
Although such pauses are uncommon, the court emphasized that the law permits them when necessary to safeguard fair trial standards.
The suspension now gives the BBC breathing room to pursue its appeal, while Wetang’ula faces renewed scrutiny—both in the courtroom and at home in Bungoma politics.
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