Abdikadir steps down, backs Muturi for Speaker’s post

By Geoffrey Mosoku

Nairobi,Kenya: Former Siakago MP Justin Muturi’s candidature for National Assembly Speaker got a boost on Tuesday after his would-be-rival in Jubilee alliance Mohamed Abdikadir backed out.

Abdikadir is said to have given up his ambitions following intense negotiations in the alliance ahead of their two day retreat in Naivasha.

“I just received a call from Abdikadir this morning (Tuesday) informing me of his decision to step down for me,” Muturi told the Standard.

Garissa Township MP-elect Aden Duale too confirmed of the move saying Jubilee was plotting to ensure they only field one candidate for the various seats in Thursday’s elelection.

“He (Abdiakdir) is a done deal, he has accepted to step down for JB (Muturi),” Duale said adding that the coalition also plans to have one candidate for the senate speaker.

The move has strengthened the candidature of Muturi who now faces incumbent Kenneth Marende and former Wajir South MP Mohamud Sirat.

The three are the only ones who have been cleared to contest in Thursday’s election as eleven others failed to meet the qualifications.

On Monday, former Garsen MP Danson Mungatana agreed to pull out of the race and support Muturi after President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta prevailed on him.

And in URP, sources have indicated that Deputy President-elect William Ruto and his URP brigade are currently negotiating with former national assembly speaker Francis Kaparo to shelve his ambitions for former Turkana Central MP Ekwe Ethuro.   

The URP party has already agreed to present Duale as National Assembly Majority leader but is yet to strike a deal on who will become Senate majority leader.

Jubilee is strategising to ensure they have once candidate to face Cord’s Farah Maalim for the senate speaker’s seat. Lawyer Philip Murgor too has applied for the position and is also counting on the support of Cord to clinch the seat.

Amani coalition is presenting Vihiga senator-elect George Khaniri as candidate for Senate Deputy Speaker to fight it against Cord’s Wilfred Machage even as nominated UDF senator Martha Wangari claims the Amani coalition’s support.

“The Amani coalition wishes to inform the public that we have one candidate, Senator George Khaniri for seat of deputy speaker in the senate. We request all members of senate to support him. We are not presenting any candidate in the National assembly,” Moyale MP-elect Roba Duba said in a statement.

Sotik MP-elect Joyce Laboso will be presented as the jubilee deputy speaker candidate to face Cord’s Dan Maanzo and Abdikadir Aden.

Senate clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye and his National Assembly counterpart Justin Bundi are scheduled to release names of those cleared Tuesday evening.

Uhuru and Ruto are scheduled to travel to Naivasha on Tuesday evening where they will join over 200 MPs and senators elect in a retreat to agree on the list of candidates.