Kenya Kwanza MPs

The constitution ranks the Speaker of the National Assembly as the third in command after the President and his deputy.

“We cannot support Kalonzo, we have our interest as Kenya Kwanza and we believe that he will sabotage us. We are lobbying and talking to members from the other side to vote for him. He is experienced and had served as Speaker before,” Mr Waluke said. This means that the contest will be settled in the second round in which the winner requires a simple majority. None of the coalitions is capable of winning the vote in the first round, which requires a two-thirds majority. Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei, MPs Moses Kirima (Imenti Central) and Gichimo Githinji (Gichugu) were eyeing the seat. “Any person who is eligible for election as Speaker or as Deputy Speaker of the Senate in terms of the constitution and who is interested in contesting for these positions is advised to collect nomination papers from the office of the clerk and return them before the deadline,” Mr Jeremiah Nyegenye, the clerk of the Senate, said. However, a list published by National Assembly on Wednesday morning did not include Mr Musyoka and Mr Wetangula's names. “Our candidate is Mr Marende. “I am going for this seat because I have been tested and proven. The deadline for the submission of the nomination papers for the Speaker and deputy speaker positions is this afternoon. “I can assure you that I am in the race for Speaker of the Senate position and I am determined that I will win,” said Mr Marende.