Kenya Kwanza picks Wetangula, Kingi for speaker positions

Kenya Kwanza picks Moses Wetangula, Amason Kingi for National Assembly and Senate speaker positions.

In its quest to grab control of both houses; the National Assembly and the Senate, the Kenya Kwanza Alliance has settled on Bungoma Senator-elect Moses Wetangula as the Speaker of the National Assembly and former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi as Senate Speaker.

The agreement was reached after a meeting held on Wednesday, September 9, at President-elect's residence in Karen, Nairobi, where it was agreed that Wetangula will be deputised by Uasin Gishu Woman Representative-elect Gladys Shollei and Kingi deputised by Meru Senator-elect Kathuri Murungi.

The meeting was attended by newly elected members of the National Assembly and Senate and convened by their coalition leader, President-elect William Ruto.

Wetangula will be competing for the position against Azimio's pick, Kenneth Marende, while Kingi will face Kalonzo Musyoka for the Senate speakership.

Elections of both house speakers will be held tomorrow at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.

Earlier, Former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar dropped his bid to become the next Senate speaker after what he termed fruitful discussions with Ruto and other Kenya Kwanza leaders.

"I do not object to this. The position was reserved for Coast and I hereby withdraw my candidature. I trust that all senators will support my brother Kingi as the sole Kenya Kwanza candidate as so agreed upon by all of us," he said.

President Kenyatta gazetted Thursday, September 8, as the date of the first sitting for members of both the National Assembly and the Senate.

Members of the two Houses of Parliament will be sworn into office tomorrow.

The exercise that marks the first day of the 13th Parliament will be undertaken in the two respective chambers starting at 9.00 am.