A section of Judiciary members were among the key stakeholders who boycotted President Uhuru Kenyatta's address to the joint parliamentary sitting, which marked the start of the 12th Parliament.
The Judiciary representatives including the Supreme Court Judges who were reserved several seats at the National Assembly did not avail themselves for the commencement of the Parliament session.
The Judiciary is a key arm of the Kenyan government, and this was more evident during the presidential petition where the Supreme court judges nullified the presidential results released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
National Super Alliance (NASA) MPs excluding Webuye East's Alfred Sambu of Amani National Congress were absent during the joint a parliamentary sitting addressed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Yesterday, the NASA legislators threatened to stage a “mass no-show" stating they cannot sit and listen to a "lame-duck President".
“We as members of NASA, and myself for that matter, find it politically untenable to sit in Parliament and listen to a person against whom my party leader is competing,” stated the minority leader Opiyo Wandayi.
This comes after the Supreme Court invalidated Uhuru Kenyatta's win in the August election and ordered for fresh polls following the petition filed by NASA leader Raila Odinga.
The Constitution stipulates that the President should address each newly-elected Parliament within 30 days after swearing in of the MPs as provided for in the House Standing Orders.
Members of the clergy including Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit were present, and they began the session with a word of prayer.
Also present at the meeting were some diplomats, independent MPs and cabinet secretaries including Najib Balala (Tourism), Eugine Wamalwa (Water), Fred Matiang'i (Education) Mwangi Kiunjuri (Devolution) and several other public service heads.
