Kenyatta laughs off opposition threat to boycott opening of Parliament

Kenyatta laughs off opposition threat to boycott opening of Kenya parliament

Nairobi, Kenya | PSCU |   Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta has scoffed at the opposition over their threat to boycott the official opening of Parliament on Tuesday.

Kenyatta said the threat amounted to nothing as Jubilee has the numbers to transact business. Jubilee and its affiliate parties have 213 of 349 MPs in the National Assembly.

“They said they will boycott the official opening of Parliament, and we say: ‘Well done’. We will pass Bills in the National Assembly and the Senate,” said Kenyatta.

Kenyatta, who was accompanied by the Deputy President William Ruto, was speaking at State House on Monday, Nairobi, when he hosted a delegation of Kamba leaders led by Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and three Jubilee MPs from the region.

Kenyatta said he was confident he would win the October 17 repeat poll but pointed out that even if the opposition leader were to be elected, he would not be able to conduct government affairs as Jubilee has the majority and it would easily impeach him.

“Even when elected, he would be removed within two or three months,” said the President.

Kenyatta pointed out that the Jubilee agenda is to unite all Kenyans and accelerate development to ensure prosperity for all citizens.

He said political competition should be based on vision and policies aimed at improving the lives of all citizens as opposed to tribal politics that is harmful to the present and the future.

“Visionary leadership and national political parties are the key to peace and development,” he added.

He noted that for the past two years, the Jubilee Party has been strengthened and become a strong entity, which has elected leaders in all corners of the country.

He said Jubilee is the home of all Kenyans, pointing out that he campaigned for all candidates regardless of their tribal backgrounds.

He castigated the opposition for playing the tribal card in its political agenda, saying this can only lead to anarchy and destruction of the country.

“Is this the road they want us to follow? Is it the Canaan they are telling us about?” President Kenyatta asked.

Deputy President William Ruto said if the opposition leader had been declared the winner, and the victory annulled by the courts, the country would have been in chaos.

He said Jubilee won the last election with majority votes as reflected by the number of elected leaders in various positions of leadership.

He said Jubilee did better in the three Ukambani counties of Machakos, Kitui and Makueni than in 2013. In the August 8 poll, it won three MPs in Machakos Town, Kitui South and Kitui East. In 2013, the party did not get a single MP.

Led by Governors Mutua and Sonko, the leaders pledged to support the re-election of the President saying the community “can no longer afford to be in the opposition”.

Governor Mutua urged the leaders to seek votes for the President by campaigning at the grassroots.

“In choosing President Kenyatta, we will be making a choice that ensures Kenya progresses. He has proved that he has an agenda to take this country forward in development,” Governor Mutua said.

He said he would integrate his party (Maendeleo Chap Chap) structures with those of Jubilee and ensure an effective campaign.

“Maendeleo Chap Chap has an extensive grassroots structure and with the Jubilee network, we will cover more ground as we campaign door-to-door for the President,” said Governor Mutua.

Former Wiper Chairman David Musila said he would vigorously campaign for the President, adding that it was important for the Head of State to continue with his development programme.

He thanked the President for the ongoing construction of the Kibwezi-Mutomo-Kitui-Mwingi road.

Musila said he and his supporters would campaign for the President and deliver substantial votes.

“We have made this decision because the efforts to make Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka clinch the Presidency have come to naught,’’ Musila said.

Other leaders who spoke were MPs Rachel Nyamai (Kitui South, Jubilee), Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East, Jubilee) and Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town, Jubilee).

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READ BELOW HIS SPEECH AT OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

SPEECH by Kenyatta Parliament September 12, 2017 by The Independent Magazine on Scribd