Two NASA MPs Attend President Uhuru's Parliament Address Despite 'Mass' Boycott

Even as opposition National Super Alliance allied MPs made good their threat to give a wide berth the official opening of 12th Parliament that was graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, two MPs defied the order to attend the address.

Out of the 136 MPs from parties allied to the opposition outfit, Alfred Sambu (Webuye East) and Charles Gimose (Hamisi) of Amani National Congress and Ford Kenya respectively attended the event.

NASA co-principal Moses Wetang'ula in Monday ordered Opposition MPs not to attend the opening of the 12th Parliament, saying that President Kenyatta did not have power to convene the opening of the new House.

Wetang'ula argued that the decision by the Chief Justice David Maraga-led Supreme Court, which annulled the re-election of President Kenyatta, had undermined his legitimacy or authority to open Parliament.

"The duty to open the new Parliament awaits the president who will assume office after being sworn in upon taking and subscribing to the oath of allegiance and the oath for the execution of the functions of office, as provided by the Constitution," Wetang'ula told journalists at Okoa Kenya offices.

MP Sambu defended himself on why he decided to attend the first session graced by President Kenyatta, saying Nasa failed to consult with MPs or call a meeting to communicate the decision to boycott the address.

"Someone just made an announcement that we should skip the function without consulting us. I attended the event because it was a national function and there is no harm in listening to the speech of the President," he said.

Coincidentally, the Judiciary also gave the function a wide berth, raising more questions than answers.

"NASA and the judges seem to be speaking the same language. It is not a coincidence that the Opposition skipped the national event and they did the same," said Sirisia MP John Waluke.

It is still unknown whether NASA will be taking any disciplinary action against the two MPs for defying the position of the coalition.