Azimio overrules Wiper, endorses Kalonzo Musyoka for Senate Speaker
The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition has thrown its weight behind Kalonzo Musyoka for the Senate Speaker position. This comes less than 24 hours after he was reported to have abandoned his quest for the Speaker position in either house of parliament after a meeting of the Wiper Party NEC.
The team, led by Martha Karua, overruled the Wiper Party’s NEC decision at a parliamentary group meeting held on Wednesday at Masai Lodge.
Kalonzo had dropped his bid when the National Executive Council of his party stated it would be humiliating. The Wiper team met at the party’s headquarters on Tuesday and encouraged their party leader to withdraw his bid and focus on growing his brand.
As President-elect William Ruto wants control of both houses, Kalonzo Musyoka is preparing to face former Kilifi governor Amason Kingi, who is backed by Kenya Kwanza.
The race is currently 50-50, with Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula abandoning his seat in the Senate to run for Speaker of the National Assembly.
Wetangula will contest with Kenneth Marende for the position of Speaker of the National Assembly. Kenya Kwanza now has 23 Senators, while Azimio has 23.
In the National Assembly, Azimio controls the legal majority but politically, there are those whose parties have already moved to Kenya Kwanza. However, none of the political formations has the required two-thirds support to give either of their candidates the first-round win.
According to Article 106 of the constitution, a Speaker for each House of Parliament should be elected by that House in accordance with the Standing Orders, from among those competing to be elected as members of Parliament.
There are two rounds of voting if the first round does not produce a winner backed by two-thirds of the members. The second round goes to whoever gets the majority of the votes from the members present.
The Speakers of both Houses will be elected during the inaugural session of the House, which is scheduled for Thursday, September 8, 2022.