NASA MPs Vow to Boycott President Uhuru’s Tuesday Parliament Address

Opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) allied MPs have vowed to stage a “mass no-show” in Parliament when President Uhuru Kenyatta address a joint Parliament sitting on Tuesday.

The MPs called for “empty-chairs” during the address by President Uhuru, saying they cannot sit and listen to a lameduck President.

“We as members of NASA, and myself for that matter, find it politically untenable to sit in Parliament and listen to a person against whom my party leader is competing,” MP Opiyo Wandayi said.

The Head of State is set to deliver a speech to members of the National Assembly and the Senate in his official opening of the 12th Parliament on Tuesday.

The Constitution requires the Head of State to make a speech to each newly elected Parliament within 30 days after the MPs take Oath of Office as provided for in the House Standing Orders.

The Parliament address traditionally presents an opportunity for an elected President to outline his government’s agenda, but this would be unlikely for Uhuru as he is facing a fresh presidential election against NASA leader Raila Odinga on October 17th after the Supreme Court nullified his victory.

“The writers of the Constitution did not envisage a situation where a lameduck President, a limping president for that matter, would come to address Parliament when he is at the same time on the campaign trail,” Wandayi added.

“Nowhere in the Constitution and the Standing Orders do we find anything untoward would happen if the President doesn’t address the opening of a new Parliament.” he said.