Uasin Gishu woman representative-elect Gladys Shollei will face off with Rarieda Member of Parliament (MP)-elect Senior Counsel Otiende Amollo for the position of deputy speaker of the National Assembly.
In a statement by Parliament on Tuesday, September 6, Shollei and Amollo were among those who expressed interest in the seat and further picked nomination papers.
"Elected members who expressed interest in the position of the deputy speaker are Gladys Jepkogei Boss - Uasin Gishu and Paul Otiende Amollo - Rarienda," the National Assembly noted.
The woman representative-elect who successfully defended her seat in the August 9 General Election lobbied her colleagues, including those in the Azimio coalition party to back her bid.
"My congratulations to all elected Honourable Members of the National Assembly. I humbly request for your support as I seek the Office of Deputy Speaker. I pledge to work with all to deliver an efficient 13th Parliament. Your support is critical and will be highly appreciated," Shollei pronounced.
Both MPs qualify to become the speaker as they are both advocates of the High Court but opted for the deputy instead. In addition, the two legislators boast exemplary careers in the private sector as well as the public service.
Shollei has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Law Reporting and was a deputy chief election officer of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) between 2010 and 2011.
She then served as the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary until 2013. The MP was elected as the second woman representative of Uasin Gishu county in 2017 under a Jubilee party ticket.
On his part, Senior Counsel Otiende Amollo practised law under Rachier and Amollo Advocates. His mastery of the law saw him selected to the Committee of Experts on Constitution matters.
He and other legal maestros drafted the Constitution of Kenya in 2010. Amollo served in the Commission on Administrative Justice as Ombudsman before joining elective politics in 2017.
Other MPs-elect who expressed interest in the seat includes George Kaluma (Homabay Town), Moses Guchine Kirimi (Central Imenti) and Farah Yussuf Mohamed (Wajir West).
At least 21 individuals have declared interest in the Speaker seat with former holder Kenneth Marende and Agano party leader Waihiga Mwaure picking nomination forms.
