Kenya’s National Assembly and Senate will convene a special sitting on Thursday, November 20, 2025, for President William Ruto’s annual State of the Nation Address. The announcement was made through a joint notice by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, signed on Tuesday, November 11.
The special sitting follows a formal notification from President Ruto confirming his availability. According to the notice, the address is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. at the National Assembly Chamber, Main Parliament Building, Nairobi.
“Following a notification by His Excellency Hon. William Samoei Ruto, PhD., C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Speaker of the Senate have convened a special sitting of the Houses of Parliament to be held on Thursday, 20th November, 2025, commencing at 2:30 p.m. for purposes of the President’s address,” the notice read.
The sitting is mandated under Article 132(1)(b) of the Constitution, which requires the president to address a joint session of Parliament once a year. It serves as a platform for the president to update lawmakers and the public on the government’s achievements, policy priorities, and national agenda for the coming year.
The session is typically formal, with the president entering the chamber in a ceremonial procession, preceded by the maces of both Houses. After the address, Parliament is adjourned, with members later engaging in a detailed debate on the contents of the speech.
President Ruto last delivered the State of the Nation Address on November 24, 2024, shortly after the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. This year’s address is expected to highlight key milestones of his administration and outline strategic goals for 2026.
The 2025 special sitting underscores the continued role of Parliament in ensuring accountability and transparency while providing a clear roadmap of government priorities for Kenyans.
