President William Ruto on Tuesday stopped a protocol breach and invited Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to make remarks after he was skipped.
The leaders were at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) where Ruto had assented to the IEBC Bill, 2024.
After assenting the Bill, National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah who co-chaired the National Dialogue Committee made his remarks and invited the other co-chair Kalonzo Musyoka.
Soon after Kalonzo was done with his speech, Ichung’wah invited Azimio leader Raila Odinga and asked him to invite President William Ruto after his remarks.
Raila finished his address and invited the President to speak.
Ruto, however, went ahead and invited Gachagua to make brief remarks before he addressed the nation.
“Before I make some remarks, I have listened carefully to the leaders who have spoken as it should be. But let me ask my deputy to make a few remarks so that I can conclude,” Ruto said.
At official functions, protocol dictates that the Deputy President would be the one inviting the President to make his remarks.
Raila and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka were among leaders who witnessed as President William Ruto assented to the IEBC (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The Bill is one of the key implementations that are a result of the National Dialogue Committee talks.
The new law will put the country’s electoral management system in place, including paving way for the appointment of new IEBC commissioners.
The President has been under pressure to sign the IEBC Bill amid calls by a section of Kenyans to recall their MPs for voting in favour of the impugned Finance Bill, 2024.
Opposition leaders and a section of the clergy have been calling for the signing of the Bill to facilitate the reconstitution of the electoral agency.
