Kalonzo Musyoka drops out of Senate Speaker race

Wiper Party boss Kalonzo Musyoka has dropped out of the race to be the next Senate Speaker after withdrawing his candidature..

The former Vice President dropped out of the race in the morning through a letter addressed to the clerk of the Senate Mr Jeremiah Nyegenye.

Communicating the withdrawal, Mr Nyegenye said Mr Kalonzo’s name will therefore not be in the ballot of candidates for the speaker’s position, dealing Azimio a huge blow.

“I wish to draw to the attention of senators that this morning, by a letter addressed to the clerk of the Senate, Kalonzo Stephen Musyoka withdrew his candidature for the position of the Speaker of Senate and his name will accordingly not be appearing in the ballot,” said Mr Nyegenye.

The Wiper party leader and former Kilifi governor Amason Kingi were among seven individuals who were to fight it out for Senate speaker's position.

Others are Isaac Aluochier, George Bush, Beatrice Kinyua, Fredrick Karuri, and George Kuria.

For the Senate Deputy Speaker position, Meru Senator Mr Kathure Murungi and his Kilifi counterpart Stewart Madzayo will battle it out.

They two are among four persons who had collected nomination papers for the seat.

Mr Joseph Ngugi and Karungo Thangwa did not return the papers by the 2.30 pm deadline on Wednesday.

Overall, 41 had expressed interest in the speaker and deputy speaker positions by picking nomination papers but only 13 individuals returned their papers by close of business yesterday.

Azimio walkout

After the announcement, Azimio-allied senators walked out and held a presser outside the chambers saying they are not taking part in the elections as they have integrity concerns with some of the candidates running for speakership of the House.

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ said the Senate did a report to commence criminal proceedings against Amason Kingi [then Governor of Kilifi], one of the leading candidates for the speakership of the Senate.

“We did report to commence criminal proceedings against Amason Kingi. Is this the person we need to sit over a House as we oversight counties?” Mr Kajwang’ posed.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said they had not been provided with integrity documents of the candidates thus not according them an opportunity to interrogate the qualification and suitability of the candidates.

“It is better to be defeated in honour than be part of fraud. That’s why we are walking out. We are refusing to sanitise a fraudulent process,” Mr Sifuna said.

In the Senate, Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party are deadlocked with 33 senators each.