Uhuru lines allied MPs only in today’s State of the Nation

Today, President Uhuru Kenyatta will deliver a State of the Nation speech in a Parliament that will only be filled with his allied MPs only.

In May, in an unprecedented move, the head of state planned to pitch camp in select Mount Kenya constituencies to spearhead the removal of some elected MPs through the recall clause. This would be a Kenyan first.

“It’s not going to be business as usual. We are soon going to release their names,” a confident Tuju said, adding that those who have been insulting the President would be among the casualties.

Although provided for in law, the recall process is tedious and has never succeeded since the enactment of the 2010 Constitution.

Sections 45 and 46 of the Elections Act require that those seeking to recall an MP get the support of at least 30 per cent of registered voters in the constituency in addition to 15 per cent in every ward.

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— Kanze Dena Mararo (@KanzeDena) November 29, 2021

The country’s COVID-19 situation, as well as the persistent drought in some areas, are set to be discussed in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s state of the nation address on Tuesday.

Furthermore, with the country gearing up for a general election next year, the president is likely to address concerns about the mechanisms put in place to guarantee a seamless transfer.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 114 of the 416 national assembly members and senators will be admitted inside the chambers. Military officers are rehearsing along Parliament Road in preparation for Tuesday’s State of the Nation speech.

President Kenyatta is set to arrive in parliament at 2:30 p.m. to deliver his eighth state of the nation speech, his second last before his term expires.

According to the regulations established in the aftermath of the COVID-19 epidemic, only 114 MPs, 88 from the national parliament, and 26 senators would be permitted inside the chamber.

During the joint session, the president is scheduled to reflect on his administration’s nine years in office and maybe define his priorities for the final eight months of his tenure.

“We expect the president to think outside the box, address the issues of covid, drought,” Eldas MP Adan Keynan says. 

After declaring drought a national calamity in early September, and with the situation deteriorating in parched districts, regional leaders are expecting for positive news from the president this coming Tuesday.

The constitution requires President Kenyatta to submit a report to the National Assembly for debate on the republic’s progress in fulfilling its international obligations, and Kenya has been a big sister to feuding neighbours Somalia, South Sudan, and now Ethiopia, which is also expected to be mentioned in the address.

Last year, the president conceded that the Big Four agenda might not be completed and that his purpose was to establish a solid framework for the implementation of his vision.

Other topics he is scheduled to discuss include succession politics, education, notably the progress achieved in the construction of the 10,000 new classrooms that he has ordered be finished by April, the war against corruption, and climate change.