President William Ruto is scheduled to address the bicameral house’s first joint sitting on Thursday afternoon, as the 13th Parliament convenes.
The address by the head of state complies with Article 132 (1) (a) of the Constitution, which requires the Head of State to address the opening of each newly elected Parliament, according to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and Senate counterpart Amason Kingi.
The President is expected to outline the policies and key priorities based on the bottom-up economic model that he passionately campaigned for and that his administration will seek to implement.
Following the August 9 General Election, the 13th Parliament was sworn in on September 8.
The meeting comes at a time when President Ruto and Raila Odinga are locked in a battle for control of the National Assembly’s House Majority.
The President is also expected to outline his plan to tackle the high cost of living which has put millions of Kenyans on the edge.
Cost of living has been a concern to many Kenyans and was a cross-cutting campaign issue across the political divide.
Ruto’s administration has ruled subsidies in fuel products and maize something that has made life unbearable to many low-income earners.
Kenyans expect to see a glimpse of his roadmap to realize the bottom-up approach that was his key rallying cry during his campaigns across the country as he fulfills his constitutional mandate.
A call to lawmakers to pass appropriate legislation to anchor his annual Sh50 billion Hustler’s Fund, a key campaign promise to micro, small, and medium enterprises, is expected to be included in his address.
The establishment of the fund, which will provide collateral-free credit, will be a significant step toward fulfilling Ruto’s campaign promises to hustlers across the country.
