Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has said that he will not attend the much-awaited President William Ruto’s State of the Nation Address.
According to a gazette notice, the President will address a joint Parliamentary sitting of both the National Assembly and the Senate on Thursday, November 9, at 2:00 p.m.
Speakers of both Houses, Moses Wetangula (National Assembly) and Amason Kingi (Senate) have since called on all members of the two Parliamentary institutions to avail themselves on the said date at 2:30 p.m.
However, in a statement ahead of President Ruto’s address, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna made it clear that he would not be able to abide by Parliamentary rules governing such high-profile occasions.
The standing orders require that the Head of State in an address to Parliament be heard in silence.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Secretary General termed Ruto as a liar adding that he will not paint the true picture of the State of the Nation.
“President William Ruto cannot be trusted to paint the true picture of the State of the Nation which as you know is dire. I cannot sit quietly listening to lies,” Sifuna said.
This being President Ruto’s first State of the Nation Address and the second address to a joint sitting of Parliament, the First in Command is expected to address the issues facing the country and the steps being taken to build the Kenyan nation.
Ruto is further expected to report the progress in the realization of national values, international obligations, and the status of the country’s national security.
