Candidates sought for Senate Deputy Speaker post

Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka giving his acceptance speech after taking the oath of office on August 31, 2017. A notice has been issued for senators to apply for Deputy Speaker post. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP.

Senators interested to serve as deputy speaker have been given until Wednesday afternoon to submit their applications to the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Jeremiah Nyegenye.

This is follows failure by the House to elect a Deputy Speaker on the same day it elected the Speaker after the three candidates, who had showed interest in the seat pulled out of the race at the last minute.

In a notice in the local dailies, Mr Nyegenye has asked those interested in the seat to collect nomination papers from his office and submit them together with their resume and other supporting documents to his office by 5pm Wednesday.

“Any person who is eligible for the position is advised to collect nomination papers from the office of the clerk between 9am and 4pm on Tuesday and Wednesday,” Mr Nyegenye said in the notice.

JUBILEE

Initially Jubilee Party senators Irungu Kangata (Murang’a), Susan Kihika (Nakuru) and Margret Kamar (Uasin Gishu) had expressed intention to contest the seat, but pulled out after a meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and elected Jubilee MPs.

It is believed that the trio was forced to pull out to pave way for Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, who the President has identified as the suitable person for the seat.

Sources close to Senator Kindiki had indicated that he was unhappy with the decision to make him deputy speaker, but he has since dismissed the assertion that indicated that he may pick up the job.

Professor Kindiki served as the leader of the Majority in the last Senate, but the party has picked Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen for the seat.

Mr Murkomen briefly served as Prof Kindiki’s deputy in the last Senate after Mr Charles Keter had been appointed to the Cabinet.

CAMPAIGN

Speaking during a Sunday service at Marimanti Methodist in Tharaka constituency, Prof Kindiki revealed that he had personally asked the President to give him a less engaging position so that he could position himself for the 2022 presidential campaigns.

“I am the one who told the President to get someone else because I want to play a critical role in national politics,” Prof Kindiki said, dismissing claims that the President had dropped him from the seat to kill his 2022 presidential interest.

Prof Kindiki may get the seat unopposed as his candidature was agreed upon in the Jubilee Party parliamentary Group and endorsed by both the President and his Deputy William Ruto.

If elected deputy speaker, he will deputise Mr Kenneth Lusaka.