PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta will deliver his third State of the Nation Address before Parliament tomorrow, seeking MPs’ support for the Budget and anti-corruption strategies.
The President is also expected to appraise Parliament on the national development agenda and update the nation on what the government has achieved so far.
The President will also seek a bipartisan approach in pushing constitutional bills and other legislation that had an August 27 deadline.
The President will seek the Senate’s support of the recent health equipment management programme, aimed at equipping two hospitals per county.
MPs were yesterday informed of the Special Sitting that will bring together both the National Assembly and the Senate.
The last time Uhuru addressed a joint sitting was in October last year, just before he left for the status conference on his now-collapsed ICC case at The Hague.
During that sitting, Uhuru dwelt mainly on Kenya’s role in the international community and temporarily handed over power to Deputy President William Ruto.
Uhuru will be addressing Parliament at a time that he is under pressure to deal with rampant corruption in government.
He has already issued several warnings to public officials to avoid corruption, pledging that those who are caught will face the full force of the law.
Three weeks ago, stung by the runaway corruption, Uhuru, in a hard-hitting but confidential Executive Order, bitterly protested the “outright theft and blatant breaches of ethical standards” by State and public officers.
Part of the directive is that all State corporations must within two weeks furnish his office with details of all procurement deals sealed since his administration took over in 2013 – complete with contract value and awardees.
The Jubilee administration has been hit hard by a series of mega sleaze scams, including the Sh50 million ChickenGate affair, the Sh100 million ‘Hustler’s Jet’ probe and a Sh2 billion Judiciary scandal.
The National Assembly passed the Budget Policy Statement 2015 with changes that were unpopular with the Executive.
The Budget and Appropriations Committee proposed that the Sh258 billion revenue allocation to the counties be reduced by Sh12.4 billion.
They also slashed proposed allocations to the ministries of Agriculture, Education, Roads and some independent commissions
Meanwhile, Uhuru has challenged Kenya’s entire complement of ambassadors and high commissioners to fight the damaging and unfair profiling of Kenya as an insecure destination.
“It is important for each of you to carry a vivid image of our glorious nation and natural heritage as you represent my government, our country and its people away from home,” he told the 17th Biennial Conference of Ambassadors and High Commissioners at Leisure Lodge Resort in Kwale yesterday.
