Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has announced that he will skip President William Ruto’s State of the Nation address set for today Thursday, November 9 in the afternoon.
In a statement via X, Sifuna claimed that the Head of state cannot be trusted to paint the true picture of the state of the nation during his address.
The ODM secretary General went on to say he will not sit down to listen to lies from President Ruto.
“The standing orders require that the head of state in an address to Parliament be heard in silence. Two problems. 1. Ruto cannot be trusted to paint the true picture of the State of the Nation which as you know is dire. 2. I cannot sit quietly listening to lies,” Sifuna stated.
“For these reasons and out of respect for the institution of Parliament I shall not attend the State of the Nation address.”
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President Ruto is expected to address the nation during a joint sitting of the Senate and the National Assembly at the main Parliament buildings.
The State of the Nation address is in accordance with Article 132 (1) of the Constitution which stipulates that a President shall address the opening of each newly elected parliament and a special sitting once every year.
This will be President Ruto’s second national address since he took over power from his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta last year. His first address was on September 29, 2022.