Six candidates have so far expressed interest in vying for the position of the speaker of the Senate, and 10 for the Speaker of the National Assembly/FILE
Three more candidates, Alex Otunga, Amos Otieno and Cosmas Koech on Sunday joined the list of contestants for the National Assembly speaker’s position, while Jane Mwihaki expressed interest in the post of Senate speaker.
According to Parliaments’ media liaison officer David Mugonyi, others candidates in the Senate speaker’s race include former speaker of the National Assembly Francis ole Kaparo, former MP Ekwe Ethuro, ex-deputy speaker Farah Maalim, Josphat Orangi and Eric Desailly Omondi.
Other names in the National Assembly speaker’s race include immediate former speaker Kenneth Marende, Siakago MP-elect Justin Muturi, former MP Abdikadir Mohamed, Machana Mokua, Migundo Winja, Harrison Mwangi, and Jacob Kithinji.
Joyce Laboso is also competing with Daniel Maanzo so far for the deputy speaker of the National Assembly while Kembi Gitura, Wilfred Machage, Peter ole Mosittet and Martha Wangare are in the race for the deputy speaker of the Senate.
Despite the increasing the number of candidates for speakers in the Senate and National Assembly, the battle may finally narrow down to the two major coalition rivals, the Jubilee Alliance led by President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and Coalition for Reform and Democracy led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The competition for the speaker’s position in the National Assembly is expected to be between Jubilee aspirant Muturi and CORD’s Marende.
With the Jubilee coalition having two candidates in the Senate speaker’s race, the battle is expected to be between CORD’s former Lagdera MP Farah Maalim and Jubilee’s former Turkana Central MP Ekwe Ethuro.
The elections, to take place on Thursday in both Houses, will be by secret ballot and will require that a candidate to be supported the by votes of two thirds majority of all members of the House.
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