President Uhuru Kenyatta’s annual State of the Nation address to Parliament was interrupted by loud whistling among parliamentarians on Thursday, forcing him to stop and let the National Assembly Speaker take over.
Speaker Justin Muturi was forced to throw Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi out of the chambers.
Other MPs thrown out for whistling include:
2. Hon John Mbadi (Gwassi)
3. Hon TJ Kajwang (Ruaraka)
4. Hon Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay Women Rep)
5. Hon Moses Kajwang (Senator Homa-Bay)
6. Hon Millie Mabona (Mbita)
7. Hon Fred Outa (Nyando)
8. Hon Simba Arati (Dagoretti North)
Hon Timothy Bosire was warned but not thrown out
The members blowing whistles on several occasions provoked the Speaker to declare a standing order that the President shall be heard in silence.
“It will be disorderly for any member to disrupt the speech of the president, as you know any breach will guarantee punishment as per the standing orders,” Muturi ordered.
CORD Co principal Kalonzo Musyoka had asked Uhuru to skip the address, criticising his government as only ‘achieving’ corruption, tribalism and intimidation by the state.
Public expectations were low on whether the address would deliver solutions to the myriad of problems Kenya is facing.
One Twitter user challenged the President to address unemployment against Jubilee’s pre-election campaign.
Other users raised the issue of rampant corruption touching on high profile personalities in Uhuru’s government , noting no convictions have been made.
