Hansard Summary
President Uhuru Kenyatta highlighted the vision of the Second Republic and praised constitutional progress, while urging greater accountability and efficiency in county governments. He criticized wasteful spending on vehicles and palaces and called for better delivery of services such as waste collection, medicines, and agricultural support. Members responded with brief objections and repeated applause. The joint sitting was marked by procedural disruptions, with several members blowing whistles, consulting loudly and being ordered to withdraw, prompting the Speaker to emphasize order and refer matters to the Powers and Privileges Committee. Amid the disorder, President Uhuru Kenyatta delivered a speech highlighting the nation’s constitutional achievements, the Nationalist Covenant, and the importance of accountability and democracy. The Senate and the National Assembly were formally adjourned, with both houses scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, 12 April 2016 at 2:30 p.m. The Speaker announced the adjournment for each chamber.Sentimental Analysis
MixedTHE PARLIAMENT OF KENYA
THE SENATE
THE HANSARD
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES JOINT SITTING OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE
Thursday, 31st March, 2016
ARRIVAL OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR
CONVENING OF SPECIAL SITTING OF PARLIAMENT FOR ANNUAL STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT
Your Excellency, Hon.
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Justin Muturi---
I can sit kidogo waendelee.
Order, Members!
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
Order, Members! Order, Sen.
Order, Members!
Hon. Odhiambo-Mabona, I order you out of the Chamber.
Hon. Members, as you know, everybody has a right to hold their opinions. I advise that any Member who feels that he or she is not ready to listen to the Address by His Excellency the President should feel free to withdraw from the Chamber. It does not
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
Thank you’ Mr. Speaker, Sir. After being thoroughly entertained, we can now get back to serious business.
Once again, hon. Members, Hon. Arati, you are out of order. The provisions of the Standing Orders as referred to by the Speaker of the Senate are correct both in the Senate and in the National Assembly.
Hon. Simba Arati, you are out of order. Kindly withdraw from the Chamber.
Hon. Members, including the Leader of the Majority in the National Assembly, the Speaker is still on his feet.
I did indicate that if you want to withdraw, please, do not interrupt. If you could withdraw quietly, it would be great honour. Indeed, it reflects a lot on you. Once again, please, if there is any Member who does not want to listen to the Address by His Excellency the President, he or she should just withdraw. You do not have to blow whistles; as you know that is a matter that will have to be dealt with by the Powers and Privileges Committee. It is gross disorder.
I now give one minute to those Members that feel desirous of withdrawing to do so.
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS EXPOSITION OF PUBLIC POLICY
Hon. Speakers, this occasion is not just important, but it lies at the heart of our democracy and nationhood. It is in the spirit of accountability and democracy that I have, over the last two years, addressed the nation to explain what my administration has achieved in fulfillment of the constitutional requirements laid out in Articles 10, 132 and 240.
Hon. Speakers, fellow Kenyans, I want to affirm that our nation is strong and the Nationalist Covenant negotiated by our founding fathers at Independence is alive and well. We have re-imagined, enhanced and expanded it. The spirit of the Lancaster covenant that bound us together as a nation in the 1960s is still with us. Although we experienced turbulence in the 2007 post-election violence, we as a people reaffirmed our commitment to the Nationalist Covenant in August 2010, when we proclaimed a new Constitution.
Hon. Speakers, I am humbled to pioneer the establishment of the Second Republic as envisioned by our second Constitution. To establish the first Republic, our founding fathers sacrificed their years of youth, defended the ideals of the Nationalist Covenant with their very lives and stayed the course until we were free and became an independent nation. Every one of us owes a sacred duty to them and a responsibility to pass on a secure, united and re-imagined nation to future generations.
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
No!
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
No!
Efficient garbage collection?
No!
Medicines in hospitals?
No!
Agricultural extension workers visiting your farms?
No!
Hon. Members, fellow Kenyans, devolution was meant to be a mechanism that would ensure no areas were left behind. Instead, in some areas we see wastefulness, fleets of vehicles and palaces being acquired to benefit administrators and officials. We have not seen enough of these hard- earned resources being utilised to provide concrete benefits to the people. It is important that we celebrate achievements and also face shortcomings squarely. Just as Kenyans demand from their National Government accountability, today I also join them in demanding total accountability and better results from our county governments; for this is your money.
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
March 31, 2016 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
Your Excellency, Sir, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Honourable Members of the Senate and the National Assembly, the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, 12th April, 2016 at 2.30p.m.
Hon. Members of the National Assembly, the National Assembly now stands adjourned until Tuesday, 12th April, 2016 at 2.30p.m.