Azimio fronts Kalonzo, Marende for Senate, National Assembly speaker posts

The coalition, which held its parliamentary group meeting at Masai Lodge in Nairobi on Wednesday also forwarded ​​Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo name for the Senate Deputy Speaker post.

In the National Assembly, Azimio picked former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende for the Speaker post and endorsed Wiper deputy party leader Farah Maalim for the National Assembly deputy speaker post.

Kalonzo will be facing former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi who has been picked as Kenya Kwanza Alliance’s choice, and Isaac Mwaura.

Marende on the other hand will be competing for the National Assembly Speaker seat with Kenya Kwanza’s Moses Wetangula.

Wetangula is being deputised by Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Boss.

Former Mombasa Governor candidate Hassan Omar has since dropped his bid in favour of Kingi.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday gazetted Thursday, September 8, for the first parliamentary sitting when the parliamentarians will also be sworn in.

The National Assembly will have 349 MPs and 12 nominated members of parliament. Raila Odinga’s Azimio commands a majority with 167 members against 159 members of the President-elect William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza coalition.

The Senate will have 47 members and 20 nominated Senators. Of these, Kenya Kwanza has 24 Senators while Azimio has 23.

Nominated MPs in both houses are yet to be gazetted. Kenya Kwanza lawmakers on Wednesday met president-elect William Ruto for a parliamentary group meeting ahead of the Thursday sittings.