President-elect William Ruto and his running mate, Rigathi Gachagua have picked Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula as the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Speaking at Bungoma Christ the King Church, Ruto noted that Wetang’ula has all the traits necessary to be a successful National Assembly Speaker.
“Apart from coming here to worship with you, I have also come here to beg you to give us your senator, Wetang’ula, to become our next Speaker’’, said Ruto.
According to speculations, Azimio wants former House Speaker Kenneth Marende to be elected to the Senate in order to undermine Wetang’ula’s chances of achieving regional balance in the National Assembly.
Due to their limited number, senators are likely to forego their secret ballot elections in a shorter amount of time; as a result, their choice may influence how their National Assembly counterpart’s vote.
The Senate has 67 members, compared to the National Assembly’s 349. In the Senate, Azimio is pushing Marende to square off against Amason Kingi of Kenya Kwanza, while Wetang’ula is anticipated to square off against Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka in the National Assembly.
Kenya Kwanza holds a narrow 24-23 Senate majority and a 161-160 National Assembly majority.
The President-Elect is also counting on two parties with a combined six lawmakers from the competing Azimio Coalition, Alfred Mutua’s Chama Cha Maendeleo (MCC) and Amason Kingi’s Pamoja African Alliance (PAA), to strengthen its position.
Leaders of the MCC and PAA retreated from Azimio and have subsequently disputed a departure provision that ties them to the coalition until November 9.
The sixteen extra seats might give Kenya Kwanza a majority of 176 in the House (10 independents and 6 members of the MCC and PAA).
In contrast, the Raila Odinga-led Azimio coaltion has 155 lawmakers from affiliated parties, with the exception of two independents who have not yet chosen a side.
Four parliamentary elections, in Rongai, Pokot South, Kitui Rural, and Kacheliba, are currently underway.