Hansard Summary
Speakers from both houses welcomed President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto, congratulating the newly elected Parliament and praising the peaceful, participatory elections. The joint sitting was highlighted as historic—the first under Kenya’s 2010 Constitution and bicameral system—signalling unity, reconciliation and democratic maturity. The joint parliamentary sitting on 16 April 2013 marked the historic first bicameral session under Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, featuring widespread congratulations to President Kenyatta, the Deputy President, opposition leaders and members of both Houses. Speakers highlighted the peaceful election, the record number of women elected, and the commitment to democratic governance before adjourning the Senate and National Assembly for the next day.Sentimental Analysis
PositiveTHE PARLIAMENT OF KENYA
THE SENATE
THE HANSARD
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
PARLIAMENT OF KENYA
JOINT SITTING OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE
Tuesday, 16th April, 2013
ARRIVAL OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT
Order, hon. Senators and
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIRS WELCOME TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT BY THE SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
Order! Order, hon. Senators and hon. Members! Your Excellency, it is now my time to invite the Speaker of the Senate, the hon. Ekwee Ethuro, to make his remarks.
Your Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, hon. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, His Excellency the Deputy President, hon. William Ruto, the Speaker of the National Assembly, my good friend and counterpart, hon. Justin Muturi, Deputy Speakers of the Senate and the National Assembly, hon. Senators and Members of the National Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, I feel greatly honoured and privileged to stand before you as Speaker of the Senate to welcome His Excellency the President, all our hon. Senators and hon. Members of the National Assembly of the Eleventh Parliament of the Republic, to this auspicious occasion in which we are holding the first joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament for purposes of the Presidential Address.
Before I make my welcoming remarks, you will indulge me to congratulate all of you as this is a newly elected Parliament, and through you, to congratulate all the people of Kenya for exercising their democratic right and civic duty of electing representatives of their choice. The prophets of doom were predicting chaos and violence. Kenyans demonstrated a rare sense of confidence and commitment in the electoral process by rising early in large numbers and queuing for long hours to give you their votes. This resulted not only in preferred candidates that now sit in Parliament, but also in the county governments; they did this in style and conducted themselves peacefully before, during and after the elections.
Permit me also to congratulate you as the fourth President of the Republic of Kenya and your able first Deputy President of the Republic on your election, inauguration, and assumption to the highest calling in the land.
Your Excellency, the reconciliatory tone of your leadership so far is a clear indication that this country will do well under your leadership and that of your deputy.
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
WELCOME TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT BY THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Your Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya, hon. Uhuru Kenyatta and hon. Members, it gives me pleasure to welcome His Excellency and all hon. Members of the Eleventh Parliament to the Official Opening of our Parliament, the citadel of our democracy.
I wish to take this earliest opportunity to congratulate Your Excellency for being elected the fourth president of the Republic of Kenya. I also wish to congratulate the Deputy President, hon. William Ruto, who is seated on the Speaker’s Row, and, indeed, all hon. Members of Parliament. To you all, congratulations!
First and foremost, I wish to thank all Kenyans for participating peacefully in the just concluded general election. That exercise showed maturity and the deepening of our democratic culture. This has, indeed, restored and redeemed our standing in the community of nations.
Your Excellency, I also wish to congratulate your foremost competitor, the former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, and the former Vice-President, hon. Kalonzo Musyoka, for providing the opportunity for political competition and being worthy competitors in the just concluded Presidential election.
Today’s sitting is historic in many ways. It is the first time we are having a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate, under the bicameral system re- introduced by the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Today’s sitting is also significant because we are together assembled as two Houses and as legislators from diverse backgrounds, representing the various sectors of our society. Today, we demonstrate that we are operating under our new Constitution. It is truly a day to celebrate.
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS EXPOSITION OF PUBLIC POLICY
The hon. Speaker of the Senate, the hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, hon. Senators and hon. Members of Parliament; it is a great honour to address this opening session of Parliament combining both Houses. I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate hon. Members and hon. Senators on your election and nomination to both the Senate and the National Assembly.
My congratulations also go the Speakers of the Senate and the National Assembly together with their respective deputies on their elections, leaders of the Majority Party and the Minority Party as well as their respective deputies on their own election. I want to especially congratulate the record number of women in both Houses, an indication of Kenya’s commitment to achieving gender parity and equality. I also commend the last
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
Hon. Members and hon. Senators, it is now my pleasure to invite the Speaker of the Senate to make his closing remarks.
Hon. Members and hon. Senators, I suggest that you should be upstanding.
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
ADJOURNMENT
Hon. Senators, it is now time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, 17th April, 2013 at 9.00 a.m., at the Senate Chambers.
Hon. Members, while still upstanding, I wish to announce that the National Assembly is adjourned until Wednesday, 17th April, 2013 at 9.00 a.m.
DEPARTURE OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT
Hon. Members and hon. Senators, it is now time for His Excellency the President to take his leave. Hon. Members and hon. Senators are requested to remain upstanding and not join the queue until His Excellency the President leaves the Chamber.
His Excellency the President will be followed by the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Speaker of the Senate, the Supreme Court Judges and the Spiritual Leaders. Thereafter hon. Members and hon. Senators are all invited to proceed to the Parliament Courtyard for a reception.
Thank you.
Parliament rose at 4.25 p.m.