Kalonzo, Wetangula in race to replace Muturi as National Assembly Speaker
Following the decision by President Uhuru Kenyatta to call the first sitting of the National Assembly, all eyes are on the parliament as Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition and Kenya Kwanza go all out for the control of the August House.
Article 126 (2) of the Constitution provides that whenever a new House is elected, the President, by notice in the Gazette, shall appoint the place and date for the first sitting of the new House, which shall be not more than 30 days after the election.
Ahead of the highly anticipated Thursday (8 September) sitting, the parliament’s acting clerk, Ms Serah Kioko confirmed seven MPs have expressed interest in the Speaker and Deputy-Speaker positions.
In accordance with the constitution, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has already gazetted 286 members of the National Assembly. The gazettement of the four who were elected in the recent delayed elections and the 12 nominated MPs is yet to happen.
The new Members of Parliament will be sworn-in and thereafter, the 13th parliament will vote on its Speaker, the third in command of the country, and deputy speaker.
Kenya Kwanza has nominated former Bungoma Senator, Hon. Moses Masika Wetangula while Azimio decided to appoint former Deputy President Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka, after initially indicating they would select a former speaker in the 10th parliament, Kenneth Marende.
The others are; Dr. Noah Winja, Mr. Jared Olouch Oundo, Mr. Isaac Alouch Polo, Hon. Farah Maalim and Hon. Robert Gichimu Githinji.
Those who are still interested in the two positions have until Wednesday, September 7, at 12.30pm to collect nomination papers and to return the completed nomination forms on the same day between 2.30pm -8.30pm.
The leader of the majority and majority whip positions are the preserve of the party or coalition with majority MPs or senators.
Azimio has a slim majority in the National Assembly, with 168 MPs against Kenya Kwanza’s 158, without the 12 nominated ones who are yet to be gazetted. In the Senate, Kenya Kwanza has 24 senators, Azimio has 22, and one is independent.