It will be a historic occasion when President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses a joint session of Parliament on Tuesday.
This will be the first time that the President addresses Parliament under the new constitutional dispensation where the Executive is separated from the Legislature.
No doubt, he will use the occasion to outline his agenda for the months and years ahead. His policy exposition should provide more details into how his government proposes to fulfil the policies and promises on which it was elected.
It will also be an opportunity for him to reassure Kenyans and the international community where there may be misgivings about his leadership.
Apart from expounding on policies and programmes, Mr Kenyatta could also seize the opportunity to display leadership on a vexing issue that is bound to test the patience of Kenyans.
MPs, senators, governors and other elected officials have yet to put in any meaningful work but are already agitating for pay increases. They must be told in no uncertain terms that this government is on the side of Kenyans and will not countenance any demands by elected representatives that are against the public interest.
We would expect that if the President takes a firm stand against these selfish, greedy and unreasonable demands, he will be reflecting the public sentiment and will also secure the support of the Opposition leadership.
Our legislators have in the past blackmailed the Executive when united by selfish pay demands.
This time round, they must be told in unambiguous terms that they are free to look for employment elsewhere if they are not content with the salary and benefits attached to the jobs they applied for
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