• Lawmakers want assurances on smooth transition, national security and public debt.
• President to deliver the speech in plenary attended by only 120 members.
Image: FILE
President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to reveal his development legacy in his address to a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
In his Mashujaa Day speech, the President hinted that he would use the State of the Nation address to explain major strides his administration has made over the last few years.
Deputy President William Ruto has been claiming Jubilee's development agenda collapsed after the handshake.
Uhuru promised he would elaborate, for instance, how the government turned around the Covid-19 pandemic to the advantage of wananchi.
In Nairobi alone, 15 Level 2 and 3 hospitals have been built from scratch in the informal settlements. A similar number is under construction.
By October, Kenyan had increased its ICU capacity by an impressive 502 per cent from 108 to 651.
MPs who spoke to the Star said Uhuru should use the opportunity to enumerate his scorecard from 2013.
Some leaders also want Uhuru to speak on the 2022 general election and the expected transition as well as the public debt situation.
MPs Aden Duale (Garissa Township), Adan Keynan (Eldas), Abdullswamad Nassir (Mvita) and John Mbadi (Suba South) spoke on the matters.
Keynan, who is Jubilee Coalition Joint Parliamentary Group Secretary, said the address is “the opportune time for the President to roll out solutions to current teething problems among them drought.”
He further argued that the president should state security measures to boost peace efforts in the troubled horn of Africa in the wake of the conflicts in Sudan and Ethiopia.
"Because Kenya as the regional security hub should take a prominent role spearheading diplomatic efforts in the two countries for our own good and peace and safety of the region," Keynan said.
For his part, Duale said the President should use the opportunity to “assure the country that he will not meddle in the 2022 succession politics.
“Let him assure the country and international community that the next election will be held on time as per the Constitution and that he guarantees us that he will allow a smooth transition.
“I don’t expect the President to lecture us on the BBI shenanigans and the fake handshake,” Duale said.
Mbadi, said the President should give an assurance on the security of the nation in light of the recent attacks in Uganda as well as speak to concerns of food security and the drought in many parts of the country.
On national unity, the Minority leader said they hope President Kenyatta revisits the handshake and how it has helped his government achieve its goals.
“I would love that he focuses on the last five years since his deputy has been peddling a lot of propaganda that little has been achieved.
"I would want him to debunk the myth since he has the data and being the wearer of the shoe, can assess his performance of the first and second term,” Mbadi said.
Nassir said, "We expect him to talk about the upcoming election and the plans for assuring a peaceful electioneering period."
As was the case last year, only 120 members of Parliament would be allowed in the chambers for the president’s second last address to the nation.
Speaker Justin Muturi said as much as they would have wished to have all members seated for the crucial speech, the numbers are limited following the Covid-19 situation.
Of the 120, 94 would be drawn from the National Assembly and the rest by the Senate. There are 416 MPs.
“The National Assembly seats are reserved for the leadership of the House while the balance would be on a first-come-first-served basis,” Muturi said.
In a break from the tradition occasioned by the ongoing global pandemic, MPs would not be allowed to invite guests to the address.
“This is in line with the advisory of the Ministry of Health on the capacity of the chamber,” Muturi said.
Members of the public are equally not invited to the event but “would get a chance to follow the proceedings through Parliament’s social media channels.”
House leaders further advised that MPs who may have interacted with Covid-19 patients to stay away from the function.
Only speakers of the two Houses, their deputies as well as leaders of the majority and minority parties will form the receiving delegation.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)