Wetangula Elected Speaker After Marende Concedes

Ford-Kenya party leader, Moses Wetangula is the new Speaker of the National Assembly.

He beat Kenneth Marende of Azimio la Umoja coalition, who consequently withdrew from the race at the second round.

The announcement was communicated to the acting clerk by Suna East MP, Junet Mohamed.

"I hereby declare Moses Wetangula as the 8th speaker of the National Assembly," acting National Assembly Clerk Serah Kioko announced.

Newly-elected Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula. /FILE

Wetangula floored Marende in the first round of the National Assembly Speaker's race.

"As you assume the office and embark on discharging the duties of the speaker, I trust that you will find this set of past rulings by your predecessors most useful. Congratulations Mr speaker," outgoing speaker Justin Muturi saluted while handing over the mantle to him.

The tight contest saw him garner 215 votes against Marende's 130.

The spoilt vote that was recorded brought the total number of votes to 346. However, he required over 230 votes to win.

Two candidates were cleared, according to Acting National Assembly Clerk Serah Kioko, who revealed that at least 21 candidates collected nomination papers but many of them 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.

With Wetangula's win, he becomes the third most powerful man in the country, behind the Deputy President and the President.

He takes over from Muturi, who has been holding the position since 2013. He began his career in the Public Service as a magistrate.

Before the voting, Kioko had to rectify the matter of Wetangula's eligibility to contest the seat after Azimio MPs led by Ruaraka's TJ Kajawang collided with Kenya Kwanza.

"The Speaker to which he delivered his resignation letter (as Senator) was already a governor... Wetangula is not eligible to become a Speaker," argued Kajwang and supporting him was Nominated MP John Mbadi. 

But the Kenya Kwanza MPs came charging back, arguing that their claims were baseless, with Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwah using the example of the four Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) breakaway commissioners' 'opaque nature' to counter them.

"What TJ Kajawang is purporting can only be described as opaque," responded Ichungwah. 

"Moses Wetangula ceased to be the Senator of Bungoma on the 9th of August... before he submitted his resignation, Wetangula has been a senator-elect and therefore not a state officer," Former Majority Leader, Aden Duale weighed in.

Kioko revealed that Wetangula was already cleared to vie for the seat by the IEBC.

“I am in receipt of a letter dated August 29 from Moses Wetangula in which he communicated to the Speaker of Senate his decision to resign as Senator-elect of Bungoma. I have satisfied myself that Moses Wetangula is qualified to vie as Speaker of the National Assembly,” she explained. 

With Wetangula's win and that of Amason Kingi as Speaker of the Senate, Kenya Kwanza now has the top leadership of the two assemblies.

Newly-elected Speaker of the Senate, Amason Kingi. /FILE