What Suluhu told joint sitting of Parliament

By Mourice Seretta

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu on Wednesday addressed a joint sitting of Parliament.

Suluhu took the opportunity to clarify that the two-day state visit to Kenya was her first since sworn in as the President of the neighbouring country explaining that her visit to Uganda was not a state visit but was for the signing of a pipeline deal.

Suluhu said since taking over office, she has received many invitations from different counties but settled on Kenya given the historical ties the two counties have enjoyed over the years.

“I was in Uganda to sign a deal but my official state visit is to Kenya. I have received many invitations but I decided to start with Kenya because of the histirical ties between the two countries.” She told the joint sitting, receiving a thunderous applause in the process.

Suluhu also said that it was her first address to a joint sitting of Parliament.

“I am delighted to get the opportunity to address the joint sitting of Senate and National Assembly of Kenya,” she said.

In her speech that was in Swahili, Suluhu outlined that she was in Kenya to rectify what had gone wrong during the tenure of her predecessors saying that no country in the region can stand on its own.

She added that her coming to Kenya was very fruitful highlighting that Tanzania and Kenya reaped a lot from discussions that she held with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

She further urged that Tanzanians and Kenyans should start living as sisters and brothers.

She was accorded a standing ovation by the members immediately she finished with her speech.

Suluhu becomes the second visiting head of state to address a joint sitting of parliament since independence.

Former Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete was the first visiting President to address a joint sitting of Parliament in October 2015.

Suluhu has extended a special invitation to President Uhuru Kenyatta to be the main guest as they celebrate 60 years of independence in December.

She said they will be honoured to have Uhuru as the main guest during the celebrations.

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