Kenya Kwanza Moses Masika Wetangula was declared speaker of the National Assembly and sworn in to replace Justin Muturi.
Wetangula who resigned from Bungoma Senator after winning in the just concluded election, garnered 215 out of 346 votes casted by all the Members of the Parliament to become the 8th speaker in the 13th parliament after Justin, Kenneth Marende, Ole Kaparo and others.
He was deemed as the favorite candidate to clinch the position due to Kenya Kwanza’s numbers in the house unlike his only rival Azimio contestant Marende who served as the speaker of the 10th parliament and was seeking to make a comeback, garnering 130 votes.
Only two candidates were cleared, according to the Acting National Assembly Clerk Serah Kioko who stated that at least 21 candidates collected nomination papers but the majority were disqualified.
Those who did not meet the threshold included Agano party leader and former presidential candidate David Mwaure Waihiga, Gideon Kiplangat Cheruiyot, Daniel Wanyonyi Opilo, Dorothy Kemunto Nyagori, Kevin Nyamari among others.
While the election of the Deputy Speaker continues, those who expressed interest for the position include; Uasin Gishu County Woman Representative Glady Shollei, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, and Homa Bay Town’s Peter Kaluma, Moses Kirima of Central Imenti and Farah Yussuf Mohamed of Wajir West.