Kibaki bids Parliament farewell after 49 years

• He praised the two Parliaments under his tenure for passing over 227 laws in the last ten years.

President Kibaki Wednesday signed off his 49-year political career as a legislator by addressing a special session of Parliament.

The President, who was later hosted to a dinner by Speaker Kenneth Marende, pledged to hand over a book he has authored on his life and times in Parliament since 1963.

He praised the two Parliaments under his tenure for passing over 227 laws in the last ten years.

He particularly thanked the 10th Parliament for being the busiest in the legislative calendar since 1963, having passed 90 Bills this year.

“The last ten years have seen one of highest number of Bills passed in the history of this nation,” he said.

Mr Kibaki also congratulated MPs for passing all the five budgets allowing the government to implement development projects countrywide.

“This House will go into the annals of history for the role it played in Constitution-making, leading to the promulgation of Constitution of Kenya, 2010,” he said.

The implementation of the Constitution has radically changed the government structure, leading to reforms in the Judiciary and the electoral process.

President Kibaki’s address to the 10th Parliament was his last as Head of State and Government.

The House will stand dissolved on January 14, 2013. MPs are expected to go on recess Thursday afternoon.

Mr Kibaki served in Parliament as a member for Bahati (now Makadara) in Nairobi (one term) and for Othaya.

The President also thanked MPs for supporting the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces to Somalia to pursue criminals linked to terrorist networks following numerous attacks on Kenyans soil.