Marende Out of Vihiga Governor Race After Raila Promised Senate Speaker Post

Kenneth Marende, the former Speaker of the National Assembly, has withdrawn his candidacy for the governorship of Vihiga.

This comes after Raila Odinga, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition presidential candidate, fronted him for the Senate Speakership if he (Raila) wins the election on August 9.

While unveiling Martha Karua as his running mate on Monday, Raila stated that he will endorse Marende for Senate Speaker.

Ken Lusaka, the current holder, is running for governor of Bungoma, a position he held from 2013 to 2017.

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Marende told journalists in Vihiga on Tuesday, that he was honored to be nominated by the former prime minister.

“I cannot ride two horses simultaneously. Now that two good opportunities have presented themselves, I’m choosing the Speaker option,” he told the Standard.

He was going to run on a DAP-K ticket and battle it out on the ballot with thep incumbent Wilber Ottichilo, who is running on an ODM ticket.

The former speaker said the speaker’s position is bigger than that of a governor.

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“I was busy at home, when a friend of mine called me, saying that Raila had proposed me for a senior State job,” he said.

According to Marende, Raila was probably persuaded by his “competence, ability to serve, and faith in devolution”.

“He (Raila) knows I will be an asset in overseeing operations of the devolved units,” he added.

Marende, 66, was the Speaker of the National Assembly between 2008 and 2013.

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On January 15, 2008, he was elected Speaker, after receiving 104 votes in the first round of voting against Francis ole Kaparo’s 99 votes, and 104 votes in the second round of voting against Kaparo’s 102 votes.

Marende served as the Member of Parliament for the Emuhaya Constituency from 2002 until 2007.

Marende will require at least two-thirds of the total votes in the Senate (68), which equates to about 45 votes, in the first round of voting to realize his dream of succeeding Lusaka as Senate Speaker.

Should he fail to get that number in the first round, the vote will go to the second round, when the victor will be determined by a simple majority.

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Raila and Azimio la Umoja will need a large number of senators to successfully push for Marende’s candidacy.

In the Kenya Kwanza Alliance camp that is led by Deputy President William Ruto, the same position has apparently been reserved for a candidate to be chosen by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi’s PAA.