Kalonzo Musyoka Joins Race for the National Assembly Speaker Post

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma Senator-elect Moses Wetang’ula are among the seven candidates who have so far expressed interest in the National Assembly Speaker position.

The two picked nomination papers on Monday after President Kenyatta gazetted Thursday as the first sitting of the National Assembly and Senate.

Through a gazette notice, Kenyatta said the bicameral house will meet at 9.00 am in the Senate Chamber and the National Assembly Chamber at the Parliament's main buildings.

Others who have collected nomination papers are Dadaab MP-Elect Farah Maalim, Robert Gichimu Githinji, Isaac Aluoch Polo, Jared Oluoch Oundo and Noah Winja.

Kalonzo is being fronted by Raila Odinga-led Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition while Wetang’ula is being sponsored by President-elect William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance. Earlier reports suggested that Azimio had settled on former National Assembly speaker Kenneth Marende for the post.

In the National Assembly, Azimio commands a majority with 167 members against 159 members of the Kenya Kwanza coalition. Kenya Kwanza controls the Senate with 24 Senators while Azimio has 23.

Candidates interested in the National Assembly and Senate speaker posts have until 12.30 pm on Wednesday to collect nomination papers and to return the completed forms on the same day between 2.30 pm and 8.30 pm.