Hansard Summary
The joint sitting marked the historic opening of Kenya's Eleventh Parliament under the new bicameral system, with the President and speakers congratulating elected officials and celebrating a peaceful election. Emphasis was placed on gender parity, the legislative agenda for the next five years, and the country's democratic progress. The session concluded with procedural adjournments for both Houses. Speakers of the Senate and National Assembly welcomed President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto at the first joint sitting of Kenya's Parliament, congratulating elected officials and praising the peaceful, participatory election. They highlighted the historic significance of the bicameral legislature under the 2010 Constitution and expressed optimism about the government’s policy agenda and democratic consolidation. The Speaker announced that the President was departing the chamber and instructed members to remain standing until the exit was complete. The order of departure for the President, Speakers, Supreme Court judges and spiritual leaders was outlined, followed by an invitation to a reception in the Parliament courtyard.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.
Your Excellency, it is a moment of great inspiration for us to have you in this House to address the nation on the Government’s policies and the legislative agenda for the Eleventh Parliament. We are very eager to listen to you, because from your Address, Kenyans will know the political philosophy and the economic strategy of the new
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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 Parliament for the passage of numerous Bills and for meeting constitutional deadlines. I take this opportunity to wish all hon. Members of the Eleventh Parliament the very best as you steer the legislative policy agenda of this august House over the next five years.
Hon. Members and hon. Senators, we all participated in an electoral process in which we campaigned in different counties and constituencies; contesting for different
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April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
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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.
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.
April 16, 2013 JOINT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 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.