Former Governor emerges favourite for Speaker post

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August 29, 2017 3:28 PM

The ex-governor is likely to be rewarded by Jubilee despite losing the gubernatorial race.

Former Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka has emerged as a favorite for the speaker’s seat in the senate.

Lusaka will be battling it out with the immediate former speaker for the senate Ekwee Ethuro who has appeared to have lost support of the Jubilee Party senators.

Former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim and Former Migori Senator Wilfred Machage are among those cleared to run for the Senate speaker seat.

Kisii senator Chris Obure and former Chairman of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) Charles Nyachae are among 12 other candidate who failed to return the application forms.

As for the National Assembly speaker’s race immediate former National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi, Noah Awinja and Washington Onyango have been shortlisted candidates to battle it out for the seat.

Moses Cheboi was the only candidate to submit an application for the election as Deputy Speaker for the National Assembly.

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Following the August 8 election, Jubilee has a total of 164 out of the 349 seats in the National Assembly.

The Jubilee Party’s numerical strength is expected to ensure they retain the powerful position of Speaker which was held by Muturi and the deputy speaker’s position which was previously occupied by Joyce Laboso who is now Governor of Bomet County.

Other key powerful positions Jubilee is likely to get include powerful standing committees with the exception of the Public Accounts Committee and Public Investments Committees, which are reserved for the Opposition.

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