President William Ruto on Tuesday had to apologise for breaking Parliament traditions.
This was during the official opening of the second sitting of the East Africa Legislative Assembly in Nairobi.
Cracking up the assembly, Ruto revealed that when Speaker Ntakirutimana was addressing the assembly he ended up clapping, which is against the Speaker's rule.
"When it was time to applause I found myself clapping and I know that is not the tradition in Parliament. I had to remind myself," Ruto said.
President Ruto had been called upon by EALA Speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana to give his opening speech when he first issued an apology that caught the house unaware.
"Mr Speaker, Let me apologise because I have been away from Parliament, for now, more than 10 years and I found myself doing the wrong things," he said.
Members of the National Assembly, Senate and EALA as well do not clap when applauding speeches, statements, or even during debates.
Instead, they stamp their feet.
Ruto was first elected to Parliament in 1997 as MP for Eldoret North.
The Head of State also took the opportunity to welcome members of EALA to the nation's capital.
"Let me first take this opportunity on behalf of the government and people of Kenya to welcome members of EALA to Nairobi. It is my wish that you will enjoy the liberations in Nairobi and also have time to enjoy Kenya," Ruto said.
The 63-member states assembly will hold its sittings – both whole house and committees – at the Parliament Buildings until March.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on Monday, EALA speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana said the Assembly has a packed schedule during the three-week special sitting in the country.
“We have different reports and Bills that we will be considering in our sessions here in the country which mainly involve oversight of different partner states,” Ntakirutimana said.
The committee sittings, which began on Monday, will among others consider seven reports touching on oversight of different partner states in areas surrounding transport and trade.
