Elgeyo Marakwet Senator-elect Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed the Jubilee Party’s plan to counter NASA's move to boycott the swearing-in ceremony that is scheduled to take place on Thursday next week.
Speaking during a Citizen TV panel discussion on Wednesday, Senator Murkonen disclosed that Jubilee legislators would go on with the ceremony as planned.
“We respect the decision of NASA to boycott the swearing-in. We have enough numbers in Jubilee and parties not affiliated with NASA to constitute a quorum in parliament.
We will be happy to be sworn in and elect the speaker and the deputy speaker in both houses, then commence business," he stated.
He added that there was a likelihood that legislators in parties affiliated to the NASA coalition would actually change their mind and attend the swearing-in.
“Having talked to many elected members in the NASA coalition I have doubt whether all of them will abide by the decision to boycott the swearing in,” he conveyed.
On Wednesday, NASA MPs led by Suna East lawmaker Junet Mohamed vowed that they would stay away from the House and the election of the Speaker until matters surrounding President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election are heard and credibly determined.
The legislators accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of acting in bad faith by calling the first sitting of Parliament despite a pending poll petition.
In a special legal Gazette dated 23rd August 2017, Kenyatta set the first sittings of the National Assembly and Senate on Thursday, August 31st, 2017 from 2:30 pm.
"Notice is given that pursuant to Article 126 (2) of the Constitution, I, Uhuru Kenyatta President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-In-Chief of Defence Force, gives notice that the first sitting of the Twelfth Parliament- The National Assembly shall be held in the National Assembly Chamber, Nairobi on Thursday, 31st August at 2:30 pm," the notice read in part.
Read Also: NASA MPs to Boycott Swearing-in Ceremony
Watch the video courtesy of Citizen TV:
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