Kibaki farewell to Parliament after 50 years

By PETER OPIYO

President Kibaki closed his 50-year colourful history in Parliament with an exhortation to MPs to use the House’s potential to radically transform people’s lives.

The President, who was showered with praise by all MPs —some of whom have been his bitter critics —, could not hold back his joy as he gracefully exited the legislative house.

The President reminisced over the great achievements of the 10th Parliament, and singled out the enactment of the new Constitution after an elusive 20-year search as standing out.

Giving his final address to the House, the Head of State — who is the longest serving Member of Parliament — appeared to set the tempo for the coming elections when he said the country’s full potential can only be realised if there was peace. “I call upon you, together with all other aspirants, to promote peace and national integration during and after elections.

“Our full potential and destiny as a nation would be achieved when we live in harmony with each other and experience true unity in our diversity,” he said. Kibaki, who started his legislative career as MP for Donholm in Nairobi before shifting base Othaya in Nyeri for 49 years – thanked his constituents.

He strode into the Chambers at 4.30pm before proceeding to deliver his speech that was beamed live to Kenyans on television.

The President’s speech moved to unify the House by showering praises on all members across the political divide, some of whom were not yet born when Kibaki was first elected to the House.

Honoured to serve

“I have been honoured to serve my country as a member of this House since 1963. I thank God for His guidance through this long period. I also thank my constituents both in the then Donholm in Nairobi and Othaya for their faith in my leadership,” he said.

During his long service, Kibaki served as President, Vice-President, minister, MP, Leader of the Opposition, and Leader of Government Business in the House.

He said his experience had shown that Parliament could shape the destiny of the country.

“I have developed the conviction that Parliament holds in its hands the ability to determine the destiny of our nation. Members of this House have the potential to radically improve the lives of the people of Kenya,” said Kibaki.

Kibaki said he would retire from politics.

“For the first time in nearly 50 years, I will not be on any ballot paper. However, most members of this August House will be running for election either as President, senator, governor, MP or women’s representative. I wish you all the very best,” Kibaki told MPs.

He praised the 10th Parliament for its role in the enactment of the new Constitution in 2010.

“This House will go down in history for the key role that it played in the constitutional review that led to the promulgation of our Constitution in 2010. The Constitution of Kenya Review Act, which was passed by this House in 2008, provided the legal framework for the review of the Constitution and established the key organs that facilitated the process,” said the President.

He also paid special tribute to the Committee of Experts, headed by Mr Nzamba Kitonga, and the Parliamentary Select Committee that oversaw the constitutional process under the leadership of Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohamed.

Kibaki described the 10th Parliament as the most active in the country’s history and that together with the Ninth they passed 227 Bills in 10 years.

He thanked his co-principal for seeing the coalition government to the end despite its challenges.

“I thank the Prime Minister for his dedication and commitment. Despite the challenges we faced in the last five years, we stayed focused on the goal of transforming the social, economic and political spheres of Kenya,” said Kibaki.

He also heaped praise on Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka for his stewardship as Leader of Government Business, and Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi and all MPs for their hard work in Parliament.

He also took note of National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende’s Solomonic rulings, saying Kenyans would remember him for his “non-partisan and landmark rulings”.

Kibaki started his last tenure on a tumultuous note following the 2007 post-poll violence and faced a hostile Parliament during its initial sittings, but MPs were able to bury their differences to enact the laws that led to the formation of the Grand Coalition Government.

“When this House was inaugurated, our country was recovering from one of its most challenging times since Independence. The first pieces of legislation that were passed were the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill, and the National Accord and Reconciliation Bill of 2008,” said Kibaki.