Aden Duale: Presidential petition has no association with functions of Parliament

Aden Duale was the leader of Majority in the 11th Parliament. Photo: Moses Omusula, Standard

Garissa Town MP-elect Aden Duale has faulted plot by newly elected legislators allied to the National Super Alliance to boycott Thursday’s swearing-in terming it hypocritical and ill advised.

Duale who was speaking Friday morning at Parliament buildings said the presidential election petition has no association with functions of both the Senate and the National Assembly.

“MPs that fail to attend the swearing-in do so at their own peril. The speakers will be elected; members will be sworn in, because the constitutional provision and procedure has been followed. They have their right to boycott but the process will continue,” said Duale who was accompanied by other newly elected Jubilee Party MPs.

NASA MPs-elect Thursday threatened to stay away from the swearing-in ceremony arguing that President Uhuru Kenyatta was acting in bad faith by convening the first sitting of the 12^th Parliament before the petition challenging his election is resolved.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, in a gazette notice on August 23, published August 31 as the date for the first sitting of both houses of Parliament.

Raila Odinga moved to the Supreme Court on August 18 where he filed a petition against Uhuru’s win, citing irregularities in the election results transmission. The case is being heard before a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice David Maraga.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared Uhuru Kenyatta the winner of the presidential poll with 8,203,290 votes against Raila Odinga’s 6,762,224.