Pomp and colour mark Uhuru’s big day

State events sometimes tend to be, eh, political. And yesterday’s State of the Nation Address was no different.

It started on Wednesday night when Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said lawmakers allied to Deputy President William Ruto would be locked out of the chamber.

However, it was not true as the list had diehard Ruto followers like Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa.

“We are here. Priority was given to House leaderships and the disabled. Those vulnerable chose to stay away. No DP ally was locked out,” Ms Juma said.

Parliament Road looked like a combination of a carnivore and a queen’s palace yesterday.

The Kenya Air Force blue uniform, accentuated by blue masks and white gloves, gave the street a feel of royalty.

But the colourful creative dressing of Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka with his blue and yellow robes, and his National Assembly counterpart Justin Muturi’s  red-pinkish attire with yellow stripes, combined with Narok Senator’s Ledama Olekina’s traditional attire, contributed to the carnivore atmosphere.

A street boy near the Parliament buildings gate refused to move.

Soldiers rehearsing for the parade were caught between ejecting the boy from the place in the full glare of the cameras or convincing the boy to leave. They chose the diplomatic route.

It was a sight to behold as two soldiers escorted the glue-sniffing boy while he asked them for lunch.

Dr Ruto, Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga and Wiper part chief Kalonzo Musyoka sat together in the chamber.

Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua chatted animatedly with the DP as both laughed.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was ushered into the main Parliament building by Mr Muturi and Mr Lusaka at 2.26pm.

There were no firm handshakes as the President just waved to those ushering him in.

Mr Kenyatta went to the Commonwealth room from where he signed the visitors’ book.

From there, he proceeded to the Senate lounge on the ground floor, his holding area whenever he visits Parliament.

It is here that the President meets both Speakers, the majority and minority leadership and the clerks for briefing and consultation before making his way to the chamber.

The briefings the President is taken through include the number and individuals invited as guests to the Speaker’s gallery.

A room upstairs used to be the President’s office and holding area under the parliamentary system of government because the President was also an MP.

With the 2010 Constitution, the office was done away with. It is now a committee room. It is used by the Senate County Public Accounts and Investments Committee.

The room still has the table Kenya’s first president Jomo Kenyatta used whenever he visited Parliament.

It is at this holding area where the procession to the chamber starts.

The President was escorted from the holding area, to the debating chamber of the National Assembly by two Serjeants-at-arms, followed by the two clerks.

Behind the clerks were the Speakers, with the President following.

Mr Muturi invited the President to make his speech at 2.52pm. The address to the nation took an hour and 19 minutes.

President Kenyatta recalled his years as a lawmaker in his speech.

“I served five years in the opposition and six years as a minister,” he said. 

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