Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete to address Kenyan MPs in Parliament

Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete (left) participates in a roundtable discussion with American and African business leaders at the US Chamber of Commerce on August 7, 2014 in Washington, D.C. FILE PHOTO | CHIP SOMODEVILLA |  AFP

In Summary

• Mr Muturi told MPs that he had received a request from President Uhuru Kenyatta asking for permission for his Tanzanian counterpart to address them.
• Mr Ethuro also informed senators of the same.
• President Kikwete, who is serving his last days in office, is coming to Kenya few weeks before Tanzania holds a general election later this month.

By JEREMIAH KIPLANG'AT
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Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete will address MPs and senators during a joint sitting in Parliament next Tuesday.

The president will be on a State visit to Kenya and the two Speakers, Justin Muturi (National Assembly) and Ekwee Ethuro (Senate), have agreed to allow him to make the address at the assembly’s Main Chambers.

It will be the first time a foreign president will be addressing Parliament.

The lawmakers were informed by their respective Speakers of the impending address on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Muturi told MPs that he had received a request from President Uhuru Kenyatta asking for permission for his Tanzanian counterpart to address them.

“I wish to convey to the House that, having made the requisite consultations, the Speaker of the Senate and I have consented to the request,” said Mr Muturi.

Mr Ethuro also informed senators of the same.

After the address, both Houses will resume normal business.

“Due to the enormous legislative agenda before the House, particularly the various Bills with constitutional deadlines, the National Assembly will resume ordinary sittings shortly after the address,” said Mr Muturi.

In the Senate, lawmakers affiliated to the Opposition asked the Speaker if the Minority Leader Moses Wetangula had been consulted prior to the announcement.

Mr Ethuro ruled that the Standing Orders did not bind him to inform any of the leaders if a foreign leader was addressing a joint sitting.

President Kikwete, who is serving his last days in office, is coming to Kenya few weeks before Tanzania holds a general election later this month.