President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate. He announced that 23 people succumbed to Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. The death tally rose to 1203. 919 positive Coronavirus cases were also recorded raising the total number to 66,723.
The cases were reported from 6,135 samples tested in the last 24 hours. Cumulative tests are now at 766,910. From the 919 cases, 887 were Kenyans and 32 were foreigners. 559 were male and 360 females.
The youngest patient was a seven-month-old infant, while the oldest was 87 years.
Nairobi recorded 345 cases, Mombasa 98, Nakuru 76, Kilifi 74, Kiambu 44, Kericho 41, Trans Nzoia 32, Kisumu 31, Uasin Gishu 24, Kajiado 18, Nyeri 17, Kwale 14, Taita Taveta 13, Machkos 10, Siaya 9, Turkana 9, Embu 7, Lamu 7, Meru 7, West Pokot 6, Kisii 5, Murang'a 5, Narok 5, Marsabit 5, Bomet 3, Homabay 3, Laikipia 2, Kirinyaga 2, Nandi 2, Garissa 1, Nyandarua 1, Migori 1, Vihiga 1 and Kakamega 1.
414 patients recovered from Covid-19. 316 were discharged from various hospitals and 98 from home-based care programs. Total recoveries thus rose to 44,040.
The president also ordered Education CS George Magoha to release the 2021 academic calendar in 14 days with all other classes expected to resume learning in January 2021.
Kenyatta's Building Bridges Initiative report also dominated his speech as he lauded ODM leader Raila Odinga for the handshake.
"Like Moses in the Bible who sat at the top of Mt. Nebo and saw the future that the people of Isreal were about to cross into the promised land, I too have seen our future," Kenyatta stated amid laughter and cheer from the audience.
Here is a minute by minute update of the event.
16:11: Uhuru concludes his speech. Speakers Ken Lusaka (Senate) and Justin Muturi adjourn Senate and Parliament respectively until Tuesday, November 17.
16:09: Presents three reports to MPs as required by the Constitution.
16:06: He says that he has seen Canaan and compares himself to Moses delivering Israelites.
16:04: Asked Kenyans to consider proposals in the BBI and to engage in positive discourse (on BBI) with a view to effecting far-reaching changes to that will address the perennial challenges the faced has faced – Negative Ethnicity; inclusion; equitable development and the fight against corruption.
15:58: On BBI Uhuru says that "We have learned as Kenyans that elections alone cannot bring peace and unity to a divided people. For that, leaders must reach out to each other and build bridges over turbulent waters to allow the people to cross into safety and prosperity.
"I ask the Members of this House, all leaders, and all Kenyans to deeply ponder their role in promoting the politics that assure our security deters our enemies and is focused on serving the people."
15:53: Uhuru: "The State of our national security is strong. Our homeland is secure from the varied threats against it."
15:51: He pinpoints the Kisumu Port, Railway (SGR) and Likoni Floating Bridge as some of the key projects of his administration.
15:47: Kenyatta says that his administration is continuously enhancing the ease of doing business and creating an enabling environment for all enterprises to thrive.
15:40: Uhuru: "Today I am proud to report that we have so far enrolled 430,598 students into 182 technical/vocational training colleges across the country."
15:38: Kenyatta reports that initiatives such as contracting youth artisans as suppliers to the Big Four Projects is a visible example of this successful approach.
15:35: He details that his Government’s objective has been to shift young people from being ‘earners of wages’ to ‘owners of capital’. His administration has modelled this by engaging them in collective action.
15:33: The President announces that over the last seven years 4.5million new titles have been issued since 2013 as compared to 6 million issued from 1963-2013.
15:29: Uhuru says that the Nairobi Metropolitan Services is a pilot project that has been successful in rolling back the frontiers of the urban indignity (Kenyans living in poor environments in the city).
15:26: Uhuru: "The Ministry of Education and the Ministry Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development will by 1st December 2020 issue a new set of building guidelines for school infrastructure."
15:24: He says that significant financial resources will be deployed towards the construction of at least 12,500 new classrooms and related school facilities.
15:20: Orders Education CS George Magoha to release the 2021 academic calendar in 14 days with all other classes expected to resume learning in January 2021.
15:19: Announces that the government successfully commenced the roll-out of the Competency-Based Curriculum to replace 8-4-4 System.
15:18: President Kenyatta issues an executive order establishing an ultra-modern national mental health hospital and upgrading Mathari facility into a semi-autonomous government agency.
15:16: He announces that the pilot programme for Universal Health Care was successfully implemented, and out of it govt has isolated critical learning points that have informed enhancements to his administration’s health policy priorities.
15:08: Kenyatta recalls measures he set to cushion Kenyans from Covid-19, from tax exemptions and offering packages to Kenyans, lowering CBK ratings to allow SMEs access loans.
15:03: 23 people succumb to Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. Kenyatta announces. Death tally rises to 1203. 919 positive Coronavirus cases were also recorded raising the total number to 66,723.
15:02: He established a framework to upscale and co-ordinate Kenya’s preparedness and response to the Coronavirus threat.
14:59: He says that the rollout of the unique personal identification number (Huduma Namba), with all its attendant benefits, is now fully on course and urges parliament to pass bills that will anchor Kenya Airways.
14:56: He applauds the critical role Parliament has continued to play in facilitating and driving the realization of our National Vision by appropriating resources; and by oversight the Executive, the Judiciary and the County Governments.
14:55: Uhuru says the status of the nation is strong and brimming for the promise of a better tomorrow.
14:53: Muturi welcomes President Uhuru Kenyatta to address the nation.
14:51: Muturi acknowledges a team of scholars who translated and delivered the Kiswahili Standing Orders which will be used every Thursday.
14:47: National Assembly Justin Muturi addresses the house, recalls inviting MPs for the special sitting.
14:44: Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka prays and the event commences.
14:42: The National Anthem is once again sung inside the Parliament chambers.
14:34: MPs are spotted in traditional and religious attires, two days after Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka changed Parliament Dress Code laws.
NASA co-principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka, Governors Mike Sonko and Wycliffe Oparanya are also in attendance.
14:22: Kenyatta inspects the guard of honour and later heads into Parliament.
14: 21: Kenya Airforce band sings the National Anthem as the event commences.
14:20: President Uhuru Kenyatta arrives at Parliament Buildings to address the nation.
14:05: President Uhuru's sister Kristina Pratt arrives.
14:00: Cabinet Secretaries arrive minutes after Ruto avails himself at the venue.
13:55: DP William Ruto arrives at Parliament Buildings. He will receive the President.
13:30: KDF Chief of Defence General Robert Kibochi lines up the military to perform a guard of honour for Kenyatta who is expected to arrive shortly.
13:20: Invited MPs start arriving and taking their seats in the National Assembly.
13:00: Section of roads leading to Parliament Buildings are barricaded.
