Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked MPs to uphold the constitution as he opened parliament – its first sitting since the 8 August elections. Addressing a joint session of the country’s two parliamentary chambers he said that at this point, as Kenya is waiting for a re-run of the annulled presidential election, it is vital that “all of us uphold the supremacy of the constitution and its institutions”.
He repeated his message that although he “strongly disagreed” with the Supreme Court’s decision to annul last month’s presidential vote he “accepted it because of my respect for our constitution”.
Members of parliament from the opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa) were not present because they say they object to the president addressing the joint session while the country is still waiting for a new election.
But Mr Kenyatta said that until the next president is sworn in, he remains the president.
The president has been appealing for calm and national unity ahead of the new vote scheduled for 17 October.
