•Sifuna explained that he knew the Head of State would go to Parliament buildings and gloss over issues.
•Last week, Ruto delivered his first-ever State of the Nation address since taking over power in September last year.
Image: TONY WAFULA
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has continued to reveal why he failed to attend President William Ruto's first State of the Nation address.
The ODM Secretary-General on Thursday said he does not trust the head of state.
"I believe that the State of the nation is about the people and not anything else. I did not trust William Ruto to paint the true status of the nation because of his history," Sifuna said on Citizen TV.
He claimed that Ruto once stood out publicly and pronounced that a road in his village had been completed only for him to go there and find the opposite.
Sifuna explained that he knew the Head of State would go to Parliament buildings and gloss over issues because the Standing Orders indicate that the Senators and MPs hear him in silence.
"I don't know how to sit and keep silent when I hear things which are not true," he said.
The Senator said that the true state of the nation is not to be heard in Parliament but by engaging with Kenyans who can give the real situation on the ground.
Last week the Nairobi Senator in a post on his X platform declared that he won't attend the State of the Nation address by President Ruto that has been scheduled for November 9.
Sifuna outlined his reservations about the Head of State's ability to present an accurate representation of the nation's current situation.
"Ruto cannot be trusted to paint the true picture of the State of the Nation which as you know is dire. I cannot sit quietly listening to lies." the post reads in part.
Last week, Ruto delivered his first-ever State of the Nation address since taking power in September last year.
The last State of the Nation address was given by former President Uhuru Kenyatta on November 30, 2021.
Article 132 of the Constitution states that; Once every year, a report, in an address to the nation, on all the measures taken and the progress achieved in the realisation of the national values.
The address came at a time when there are cries by Kenyans over the skyrocketing cost of living since the Kenya Kwanza administration took over.
A survey conducted in late July by Tifa research firm showed that 79 per cent of those polled thought that the ever-rising cost of living was driving the country in the wrong direction.
Kenyans are expecting that the President will address the high cost of living and perhaps give hope on how prices including basic commodities, and fuel will be reduced.