President William Ruto prevented a protocol breach on Tuesday, July 9, after signing the IEBC Amendment Bill 2024 into law to allow his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, make his remarks.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who co-chaired the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), had invited Azimio leader Raila Odinga to give his speech and asked him to invite the president thereafter.
However, when the former Prime Minister finished making his remarks and invited President Ruto to speak, the Head of State invited his deputy to speak after realising he had been skipped.
“Before I make some remarks, I have listened carefully to the leaders who have spoken and each one of them has spoken passionately about the future of our country as it should be. But let me ask my deputy to make a few remarks so that I can conclude,” the president stated.
According to protocol, in official functions where the president and his deputy are present, the deputy should invite the president to make his remarks.
Raila and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka were among leaders who witnessed as President William Ruto assented to the IEBC (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The Bill is one of the key implementations that are a result of the National Dialogue Committee talks.
The new law will put the country’s electoral management system in place, including paving way for the appointment of new IEBC commissioners.
The President has been under pressure to sign the IEBC Bill amid calls by a section of Kenyans to recall their MPs for voting in favour of the impugned Finance Bill, 2024.
Opposition leaders and a section of the clergy have been calling for the signing of the Bill to facilitate the reconstitution of the electoral agency.
