Former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka will now contend for the Senate speakership while Kenneth Marende will battle Moses Wetangula for the National Assembly post.
The decision was reached following an Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Parliamentary group meeting on Wednesday.
Earlier, Kalonzo who was eyeing both posts, dropped his bids after the Wiper Party National Executive Council convinced him the loss would be humiliating.
The contest for the National Assembly has attracted at least 21 applicants, while the position of Senate Speaker has attracted at least 17 others.
Read: It is Marende Vs Wetangula For National Assembly Speaker
Also giving Marende a run for his money is David Mwaure Waihiga, the leader of the Agano party. He came in fourth in the presidential election.
One needs to receive at least 233 votes in a house of 349 in order to be elected speaker in the first round of voting.
In the event that there is a tie in round one, the top two competitors will face off in a run-off, with a simple majority required to prevail.
Wetangula is considered to be the favorite to win the seat, but his candidacy has raised doubts because of Kenya Kwanza’s strength in the House. To qualify, he must resign from his position as senator for Bungoma.
Read Also: 38 Express Interest in National Assembly, Senate Speaker Posts
Farah Maalim, a former deputy speaker, and Robert Gichimu, a politician from Gichugu, are both vying for the position.
Former Mombasa Gubernatorial candidate Hassan Omar on Wednesday withdrew his candidature for the senate speakership in favour of former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.
“Following lengthy deliberations with H.E@WilliamsRuto and other Kenya Kwanza leaders yesterday, we agreed that H.E Amason Kingi be fronted as the Coalition’s candidate for Senate Speaker in keeping with the spirit of Coalition partnership,” said Omar.
He added: “I have no objection to this considering that this position was reserved for the Coast and hereby withdraw my candidature for Senate Speaker. I trust that all Senators will rally their support for my brother Kingi as the sole Kenya Kwanza candidate as so agreed upon by all of us.”
As for the deputy speaker position in the Senate, the Kenya Kwanza Alliance has settled for Kathuri Murungi.
Gladys Boss, the Uasin Gishu Woman Rep, will run for the deputy speaker of the National Assembly position.
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