Former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has been elected as the Senate Speaker after he garnered 46 out the 67 votes casted, winning by an absolute majority.
“Sen. Amason Kingi Jeffah has been elected overwhelmingly to be the Speaker of the Senate of Kenya. He will preside over the 4th Senate in the 13th Parliament.” Senate of Kenya tweeted.
Kingi becomes the third senate speaker after Ekwe Ethuro and Kenneth Lusaka. His election comes hours after Kalonzo Musyoka and Hassan Omar withdrew from the race.
Omar who lost Mombasa gubernatorial seat in the August 29th election to Abdulswamad, abandoned his bid for senate speaker to support Amason Kingi who was fronted by the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
“I have no objection to this considering that this position was reserved for the Coast and hereby withdraw my candidature for Senate Speaker. I trust that all Senators will rally their support for my brother Kingi as the sole Kenya Kwanza candidate as so agreed upon by all of us,” he said.
Whereas Kalonzo Musyoka confirmed his drop when Azimio affiliated senators refused to vote after boycotting the election to fail while citing lack of integrity as the issue.
Amason Kingi and Meru senator Kathure Murungi were sworn-in immediately after the election as Senate Speaker and Deputy Senate Speaker respectively.