Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Wednesday, September 7, threw his hat back into the Senate speaker's race after dropping out of the National Assembly speaker's contest.
Kalonzo was fronted by the Azimio One Kenya Alliance headed by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In the contest, the Wiper leader is slated to battle it out with former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi who has the backing of the Kenya Kwanza wing.
"Breakthrough at the Azimio Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting on who to go for speakership in the National Assembly and the senate.
"Hon. Kenneth Marende to go for speaker of the National Assembly and Hon Kalonzo Musyoka to go for speaker of the Senate," Philip Etale, ODM's Communications Director, announced.
Initially, Kalonzo had been in the National Assembly speaker's race but opted to drop out in fear of being humiliated at the elections set to be conducted on Thursday, September 8.
The former Vice President under the Azimio La Umoja Coalition had thrown himself in the race to face off Moses Wetangula from Kenya Kwanza Alliance for the speaker's seat.
While making his decision, the Wiper Party National Executive Council urged its leader to embark on building his brand after his preferred presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, failed to clinch the seat.
Kalonzo had, on Monday, September 5, reportedly picked both the National Assembly and Senate nomination papers, seeking to lobby elected members to support his bid in both houses.
The decision to drop out came after an agreement within Azimio to have the National Assembly speaker's race nabbed up by former Speaker Kenneth Marende.
Marende had also picked both nomination papers for the National Assembly and the Senate.
Dadaab Constituency MP-elect Farah Maalim was selected to deputise Marende in the national assembly after his Rarieda MP counterpart opted to drop out.
