COVID-19: President Kenyatta says Parliament sessions suspended until further notice

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday said sessions of both Houses of Parliament, the National Assembly as well as the Senate, have been suspended until further notice.

President Kenyatta, in an address to the nation from State House in Nairobi, said the decision was arrived at in concurrence with the leadership of both Houses.

The Head of State announced this among new measures aimed at reducing gatherings in order to tame the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country.

He also directed that sessions of five county assemblies designated as ‘disease infected areas’ similarly be suspended.

“…with the concurrence of the parliamentary leadership of both Houses of Parliament, and with the concurrence of County leadership; the Ordinary Sessions of the August Houses including those of their Committees, and the Ordinary Sessions of the County Assemblies of Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu and Nakuru, are hereby suspended, until further notice,” he said.

“In accordance with the Standing Orders of the National Assembly and the Senate, the Two Speakers of Parliament will move to effect this decision as well as the Speakers of the respective County Assemblies.”

President Kenyatta further stated that all in-person meetings of the Cabinet and its Committees, with the exception of meetings of the National Security Council, are suspended until further notice.