Jubilee MPs defend Uhuru Kenyatta's Parliament address

President Uhuru Kenyatta during Tuesday's joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate. Photo: Boniface Okendo, Kisumu

Jubilee MPs defended the decision by President Uhuru Kenyatta to address the joint sitting of Parliament, maintaining that he was constitutionally in office.

The legislators said despite the decision by the Supreme Court to annul the August 8 presidential election, Uhuru remained the Head of State, exercising all powers of an incumbent.

The MPs who kicked off the debate on the presidential speech delivered on Tuesday, said contrary to what a section of the National Super Alliance (NASA) leaders were saying, Uhuru's presidency was not temporary, and therefore he has full mandate of running the country until a new President is sworn into office.

"There is no question as to who the President is. The Constitution creates no vacuum, even for a moment, when this country will not have a President. Uhuru Kenyatta is still serving the first term in office, and the law is very clear on that," said Majority Leader Aden Duale.

NASA leadership, led by Senator Moses Wetangula on Tuesday rallied the coalition MPs against attending Uhuru's address, challenging his decision to call parliament for the joint sitting and insisting that his incumbency was temporally.

NASA leader Raila Odinga also faulted Uhuru's decision to address the sitting, arguing that he lacked the legal mandate to do so.

Raila said the duty should be undertaken by the President sworn in after the October 17 repeat election.