Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 9 November 2023
The Senate and National Assembly convened a special joint sitting in accordance with constitutional provisions for the President’s annual address. President William Ruto outlined the government’s constitutional duties, reported on economic challenges such as external shocks, fiscal distress and food insecurity, and reiterated his vision for a transformative, people‑centred Kenya. The debate was largely procedural and optimistic, while acknowledging significant difficulties. President William Ruto used the afternoon sitting to showcase a range of government initiatives, highlighting the growth of the Hustler Fund’s group lending, the chartering of the Open University of Kenya and extensive healthcare reforms that include new legislation and a massive deployment of community health promoters. He also reaffirmed a zero‑tolerance stance on corruption, emphasized a rights‑based security approach, and announced the doubling of enrolment in the National Youth Service to broaden youth inclusion. The remarks were met with repeated applause, reflecting a broadly optimistic tone. President William Ruto used the afternoon sitting to outline his administration’s drive for institutional reforms and bottom‑up economic transformation, citing police independence, judicial appointments and a range of agricultural initiatives. He highlighted achievements in fisheries, dairy, coffee and sugar sectors, debt relief measures and the mobilisation of development partners to curb the cost of living and spur growth.
You may be seated. Order, Hon. Members. Your Excellency, the Hon. (Dr) William Samoei Ruto, CGH, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in- Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces; the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Moses Wetangula, E.G.H, MP; Hon. Members of Parliament, Article 132 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya requires the President to address the Special Sitting of Parl…
In addition, Article 240 Sub-Section 7 of the Constitution requires the President in his capacity as the Chairperson of the National Security Council (NSC) to report to Parliament annually on the state of the security of the Republic. In this regard, therefore, pursuant to Article 132(1)(b) and (c)(i) (ii) of the Constitution, the Presidency, vide the letter referenced No. OP/ CAP.26/4a Vol.2/52 …
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Your Excellency, Hon. (Dr) William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H, President of the Republic of Kenya and the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces; the Rt. Hon. Amason King, E.G.H, MP, Hon. Speaker of the Senate; Hon. Members of Parliament; Members of the Diplomatic Corps; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen, Article 132 (1) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya requires the President to address t…
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of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces to address this Special Sitting of Parliament. Welcome Your Excellency.
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Thank you very much, Hon. Members. I rise before this distinguished assembly of the democratically elected representatives of the people of Kenya to discharge my constitutional functions under Article 132 (1) (c) . The occasion requires me to give an account to the people of Kenya, the measures taken by their government, under my leadership, and to give full expression and effect to the soul of o…
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of shared prosperity, but it has also increased our confidence that we are on the right path and shall, in due course, deliver the transformation of our nation in full. It is important for us to point out that we began the implementation of our mandate to transform Kenya's economy from the bottom-up under extremely difficult circumstances, not to excuse failure or justify inability or omission to…
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Officer of the National Police Service to enhance police independence and subsequently appointed a taskforce – led by former Chief Justice David Maraga – to review the terms and conditions of service of members of the National Police Service. Hon. Members, this was necessary so that we can cement our place as a nation on a firm foundation of the rule of law. Together with the people of Kenya, we …
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We have also established 22 new fish landing sites in nine counties in the Nyanza and Coast regions. We have funded and organised beach management units into cooperatives, set up two hatcheries in Kabonyo in Kisumu County, and in Shimoni in Kwale County. We are in the process of completing Liwatoni fish processing plant in Mombasa by end of next month and Shimoni Fish Port by the end of next year,…
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Additionally, we are enhancing dairy productivity for better farmer returns. The Government, working closely with milk processors, and I had a long conversation with them in Nakuru… We are mapping the country to ensure coolers are supplied where needed. Soon, farmers will be paid based on milk quality this boosting incomes. They can also enjoy global market access. Our reforms in the coffee secto…
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We have worked hard, at home and abroad, to mobilise a broad coalition of bilateral development partners. Many of them I see them in this House, multilateral development banks and other agencies, which have rallied to pull our country back from the brink of debt distress and set us firmly on the path towards sustainable economic growth.
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In the intervening period, the Hustler Fund has also launched a group product, which has attracted 50,000 active groups to the platform of which 20,000 have received Ksh151 million. The Hustler Fund has provided us not only the huge pent-up demand for affordable credit, but also the readiness of Kenyans to embrace credit and savings and to pay their loans on time with minimum prompting. The notio…
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transporters, steel and cement factory workers, and hardware merchants will be partakers in this transformative plan. I spoke to Moses at the site today in Ruiru, an electrician who told me that out of the 1,700 workers who were in the site today, he was in charge of 114 electricians who are engaged in that site. He asked me to make sure the next site is ready for them because they will finish th…
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To fully democratise our education system and make higher education accessible and affordable to all, we have also chartered the Open University of Kenya following requisite Cabinet and parliamentary approvals. I want to thank this House for expediting the Open University of Kenya Charter that had been in the works for the last 10 years. I also want to announce to you that the first 1,000 students…
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high blood pressure. In a twist of fate, he tested himself and discovered that he too, had high blood pressure.
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Hon. Members, corruption, wastage, inefficiency and negligence are serious threats to our transformation agenda, and unacceptable practices that have no place in our nation. I have given my firm assurance to the people of Kenya that cases of misconduct and corruption shall be dealt with ruthlessly, with finality and expeditiously.
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been committed to a citizen centric, rights-focused, inclusive and community-based security strategy. I am, therefore, quite clear that there exists no tension between the effective delivery of security services and the upholding of human rights and fundamental freedoms. We can be and therefore must be secure, yet free and democratic. In order to entrench our all-of-society coalition, we have re…
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obligations through Kenya’s leadership in the international arena. This is underscored by the high-level summits Kenya has hosted and participated in. Kenya successfully hosted the inaugural, first-ever Africa Climate Summit, the 43rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, the 5th Mid-Year Coordination meeting of the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities and the first- ever Afri…
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Hon. Members, please, be upstanding. Your Excellency the President, Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Members, we have come to the conclusion of the business of the day, and it is now time to adjourn The Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, 14th November 2023 at 2.30 p.m. at the Senate Chamber.
Hon. Members, remain upstanding.
Hon. Members, the National Assembly now stands adjourned until Tuesday, 14th November 2023 at 2.30 p.m. Your Excellency the President, I also take this opportunity to invite all Members and our guests to a reception at the Parliament courtyard. I also request all Members and our guests to remain standing in your places until the procession of His Excellency the President and the Speakers leaves t…