President Uhuru Kenyatta during a past parliament address. Photo/the-star.co.ke
President Uhuru Kenyatta today urged Parliament to stand up for the Constitution and to protect the sovereign will of Kenyans.
President Kenyatta said there is nothing higher than the sovereign will of Kenyans, which is exercised through their elected leaders, and Parliamentarians have a duty to remind every section of government whenever it transgresses on the sovereignty of Kenyans.
The President spoke when he addressed a joint sitting of Parliament during the official opening of the 12th Parliament, where he reminded the MPs that they have a crucial role to play in protecting the liberties and freedoms Kenyans fought hard for.
“It is no accident that the first two articles of the Constitution declare that the sovereignty of the people is exercised through their elected representatives, and that Parliament represents the diversity of the nation,” said the President.
“That history places a profound responsibility on the Members of this House to ‘protect this Constitution and promote the democratic governance of the Republic.”
The President said it is very important for all arms of Government to be free “from intimidation or control by any foreign or domestic actors, and special interest groups”.
He said any official who serves in the three arms of Government must understand undertaking the sacred tasks they were given requires that they “constantly remember, and affirm, in word and deed, that the people are sovereign.”
“Parliament directly represents the people, and it is you, Honourable Members, who must constantly remind all of us about the needs and aspirations of the people who sent you here,” said the President.
“This August House must stand for that unity and must rise to the promises we have made to the people of this great nation,” added the President.
He said the country was going through a defining moment and there was need for the three arms of government to respect each other’s functional independence.