Azimio fronts Kenneth Marende for National Assembly Speaker to face Wetang’ula drops Kalonzo name
Azimio fronts Kenneth Marende for National Assembly Speaker to face Moses Wetang’ula as they drop Kalonzo Musyoka’s name.
Azimio has settled on Kenneth Marende to face off with Bungoma Senator-elect Moses Wetangu’ula in the race for National Assembly speaker.
According to a publication in the daily nation, Azimio Secretary General Junet Mohamed revealed yesterday that the decision was arrived at after wide consultations by coalition partners.
Kenneth Marende was initially being fronted for the Senate speaker with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s name being mentioned as a possible candidate for the National Assembly seat.
“Azimio coalition has decided to front Marende as our candidate for the National Assembly speaker. We have decided to go for someone who has been tried and tested, someone who understands the operations of Parliament,” said Mr. Mohamed.
“We are going to formally communicate this to all our members by Monday. All the coalition partners including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka are in agreement.”
In the agreed line-up, Wiper will produce a candidate to run for National Assembly deputy speaker, while the Senate speaker candidate will come from the Coast or the pastoralist community.
Kenya Kwanza Alliance of President-elect William Ruto has settled on Moses Wetang’ula for the National Assembly and immediate former Kilifi governor Amason Kingi for the Senate.
“Politics is like a game of chess; you wait for your opponents to place their cards on the table before you show yours. With Mr. Marende as our candidate, we are sure the next speaker of the National Assembly will be from Azimio,” said Mr. Mohamed in reference to the dilemma facing Mr. Wetang’ula.
Legally, Azimio has a slim majority of 167-158 over Kenya Kwanza. But politically, Kenya Kwanza has more numbers after William Ruto wooed some Azimio members and independents.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) will take up six out of the 12 nomination slots, ODM four, while Jubilee and Wiper will take one each. This means six each for Kenya Kwanza and Azimio, placing the numbers at 173 for Azimio and 164 for Kenya Kwanza.
Junet Mohamed said the issue of which coalition forms the majority side has since been settled as it is clearly Azimio.
At least 12 MPs-elect have crossed over to William Ruto, handing his alliance advantage in the election of National Assembly speaker.
ODM chairman John Mbadi and Ugunja MP-elect Opiyo Wandayi are the front-runners for the majority leader post.
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