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2017 KENYA ELECTIONS

NASA says convening of Parliament ‘in bad faith’

Speaking to the press after the consultative meeting while in the company of NASA Members of Parliament-elect, co principal Moses Wetangu’la said that the constitutional time line of calling Parliament is up to 30 days/DANNISH ODNGO

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 25 – The National Super Alliance (NASA) top leadership congregated at the Okoa Kenya offices Friday where they maintained that President Uhuru Kenyatta acted in bad faith when he convened the first session of the 12th Parliament.

Speaking to the press after the consultative meeting while in the company of NASA Members of Parliament-elect, co principal Moses Wetangu’la said that the constitutional time line of calling Parliament is up to 30 days.

“It is in the Constitution that the President or the caretaker President has powers to summon Parliament for purposes of swearing in of Members and election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, but we find his decision premature since there is a case in court challenging his re-election” said Wetang’ula.

The meeting which was convened by NASA’s top leadership and attended by co-principals Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka, was the second parliamentary group meeting they were holding after the elections.

Wetangu’la reading a statement after the meeting claimed that the reason President Kenyatta called Parliament next Thursday was to downplay the petition challenging his election.

“The president has enough time to wait until the petition is determined,” he said.

He also downplayed media reports alluding to internal wrangles within the coalition which claimed that some parties within NASA had already taken powerful positions without consulting others.

“We will make an announcement on the way forward concerning the convening of Parliament by President Kenyatta next week on Monday or Tuesday,” Wetang’ula said.

He further said the coalition will beginning this Sunday hold a peaceful vigil outside the Supreme Court to pray for the matter that is before the Supreme Court. “We agreed that all Members present here and those who could not make to the meeting will join us for the prayers”.

The meeting also agreed that a retreat be held in two weeks’ time to allow members familiarize with each other and propose names of representatives to various committees of both Houses including the powerful watchdog committees. During the retreat, members will also choose their leaders in both Houses of Parliament.

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Musyoka earlier on had encouraged the opposition legislators to stay put so that they are not swayed to join Jubilee.

“An attempt will be made to reach out to you personally. Stay strong for the sake of the country. Don’t join Parliament and forget about the fight for a better Kenya. We want to see if you are reformists or conformists,” he said.

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