Stakes high ahead of Speakers, deputies elections

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi Photo:Courtesy

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi is poised to retain his seat while his Senate counterpart, Ekwe Ethuro, is on the verge of losing out.

Mr Muturi will face little known Dr Noah Winja Migudo and Washingtone Andago Onyango the elections.

As members of the National Assembly and Senate take oath of office and elect the Speakers shortly afterwards, sources within the Jubilee Party indicated that Muturi is almost assured of retaining his seat.

Kuresoi North MP-elect Moses Cheboi is also set to be confirmed as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly after two of his opponents pulled out of the race.

Samburu West MP-elect Naisula Lesuuda and her Gilgil counterpart, Martha Wangari, failed to submit their papers.

Ethuro will, however, have to battle it out with six other candidates cleared for the seat from a pool of 21 individuals who had expressed an interest.

Former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim, former Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, former Senator Wilfred Machage (Migori), and former West Mugirango MP James Gesami were all cleared for the seat. Others are Paul Ribathi and Rameshchandara Govind.

The battle lines are drawn for the Deputy Speaker's position, with four Jubilee Senators set to face off.

Senators-elect Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Irungu Kang'ata (Muranga), and Paul Wamatangi (Kiambu) are seeking to replace former DS Kembi Gitura, who lost to Kang'ata.