Wetangula or Marende: Who will clinch the Speaker's job?

Kenya Kwanza's Moses Wetang'ula and Azimio la Umoja's nominee Kenneth Marende. [File, Standard] It will now be a battle royale between Azimio la Umoja's nominee Kenneth Marende and Kenya Kwanza's Moses Wetang'ula for the Speaker of the National Assembly position. The entry of Marende into the speaker's race will muddy the waters for the contest given that both candidates come from the same region. Initially, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka's name had been mentioned as a possible candidate, but now with the entrance of Marende into the race, it changes the matrix, since Wetangula has the backing of all MPs from the Western region. The two will now be forced to campaign vigorously to win the majority of the 349 members, who will vote into backing a particular candidate. The Western region has 38 MPs elected. A number that will now be shared between the two. Kakamega has 10 Azimio MPs against Kenya Kwanza's two. In Bungoma, Azimio has three, and Kenya Kwanza has six. Vihiga has one MP-elect in Azimio with Kenya Kwanza having four. In Busia, Azimo has five, Kenya Kwanza one, and one who won as an independent candidate. In Trans Nzoia, Azimio enjoys three MPs against two of Kenya Kwanza. This makes Azimio lead with 22 MPs from the region followed by Kenya Kwanza with 15 MPs and one independent Earlier this year, Marende, dropped his Vihiga governor's ambition after Raila Odinga fronted him for the Senate Speaker's seat. Kalonzo will now retain his chief cabinet secretary post, which will be dependent on the supreme verdict on the presidential petition. Since his declaration as president-elect, Ruto has been on a fishing spree that currently places his Kenya Kwanza ahead in the battle for the two coveted positions. (Senate and the National Assembly) with one goal of controlling parliament. Legally, Azimio has a slim majority of 167-158 over Kenya Kwanza. But politically, Kenya Kwanza has more numbers after Dr. Ruto wooed some Azimio members and independents. But politically, other parties have shifted their alliance to DP Ruto's side including 12 independent MPs candidates that have joined the Kenya Kwanza team. At least 15 MPs-elect have crossed over to Dr Ruto, handing his alliance advantage in the election of the Speaker. They include MPs from UDM -7, PAA-3, MCC-2, UPIA-2, and NAP-K 1 With 15 shifting to Kenya Kwanza, it will have 173 and Azimio will be deprived of 15 dropping to 152. But even with Marende in the race, it is a political gamble for Wetangula, who could lose both his Senate seat and the Speaker seat should he lack numbers to guarantee him a win and defeat Marende. He managed to retain his Bungoma senatorial seat in the August 9 polls. Wetangula is first required to resign and obtain a letter from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ascertaining that he is not an MP before he can apply to contest. "Please, also note that candidates shall be required to submit a letter from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) evidencing the fact that the candidate is qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament under Article 99 of the Constitution and that the candidate is not such a member, in the case of the position of the speaker," states a notice to applicants by the acting Clerk Serah Kioko. But it could still be a win-win for Wetangula as he could still defend his Bungoma Senatorial position should he lose the Speaker seat, since the seat will be rendered vacant. With the Speaker's vote conducted in a day and the by-election of Bungoma set to be conducted three months after his resignation, it means he will be legible to defend that seat. On the other hand, should he win the Speaker's seat, Wetangula has endorsed his long-time personal assistant Wafula Wakoli to succeed him. Having served as speaker of the 10th parliament and successfully preceded over a divided house, Marende also has an added advantage The house is expected to convene latest on Thursday, this week, which will mark 30 days after the members were elected with President Uhuru Kenyatta expected to gazette the names before the time lapses, failure to which the clerks of the two houses will gazette the names. It is when President Kenyatta convenes the first sitting that a Speaker will be elected. According to the House Standing Orders, a Speaker shall be elected when the House first meets after a General Election and before proceeding with any other business other than oath of office by the new members.

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