An epic political duel between the two rival political formations, Kenya Kwanza and Azimio Coalition led by President-elect William Ruto and Raila Odinga respectively is expected to play out today during the scheduled election of Speakers of both Houses, the National Assembly and Senate.
A few minutes ago, Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye declined to defer election exercise for the Senate Speaker following incessant plea by Senators aligned to the Raila led Azimio coalition who decried of short notice.
Azimio is fronting Wiper Part leader Kalonzo Musyoka for Senate Speaker while Kenya Kwanza has settled on immediate Kilifi County governor Amason Kingi.
For the National Assembly Speaker contest, Azimio has settled on the former Speaker Kenneth Marende who will battle it out with Ford Kenya Party leader Moses Wetangula who resigned as Bungoma Senator-elect.
Yesterday, both coalitions held strategic meetings to marshall support for their respective candidates.
President Uhuru Kenyatta gazette September 8, 2022as the First Sitting of the National Assembly and Senate hence marking the beginning of the first parliamentary session in both Houses.
“Do not accept to be bought for two shillings (to change the tune and vote for Kenya Kwanza candidates in the race for the speakership positions,” Uhuru urged lawmakers at Maasai Lodge Hotel in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado county.
Ruto convinced the lawmakers that it was a priority the coalition clinches the positions to enable smooth and effective running of the government.
At his resident in Karen, Nairobi, Ruto hosted the Kenya Kwanza parliamentary group meeting, which included over 180 elected Members of Parliament and several elected senators.
Ruto has already won over a good number of Members of Parliament elected to the thirteenth parliament on an Independent ticket MPs and defectors from the Azimio.
In contrast, Uhuru and Raila hosted the lawmakers elected on the platforms of the coalition member parties at the Maasai Lodge Hotel in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado county, where they urged them to support former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for the posts of National Assembly and Senate speaker, respectively.
Gladys Shollei who is the current Uasin Gishu woman representative has been fronted by the incoming president army to be voted in as the Deputy Speaker.
Conferring to the rule that the speaker election must take place after the induction of Member of Parliaments (MPs) and will be done in accordance with standing orders 6, 7, 11, 12, and 13.
The Constitution places the National Assembly Speaker as third in command after the President and the Deputy President.
The outgoing speaker Justin Muturi is expected to offer a valedictory letter speech or performance as a means to say farewell. As stipulated by the 2010 Constitution, Muturi is the first Speaker to lead the National Assembly after the establishment of a bicameral Parliament.
However, he trounced over Speaker Kenneth Marende by 219 votes to 129 votes after a second round of voting by National Assembly members.
The race for the speaker positions of the bicameral houses has gained momentum and is expected to culminate with the speakers for the 13th parliament and 3rd senate today, September 8, 2022 for the incoming regime of the fifth president-elect of the Republic of Kenya.