Senate Speaker Amason Kingi
Former Kilifi Governor Amason Jeffah Kingi has been elected as the new Senate speaker.
In the voting exercise which was carried on Thursday September 8, Kingi garnered 46 votes which surpassed the two thirds required by the constitution.
Kingi was fronted by the Senate Speaker position by the Kenya Kwanza Alliance as per its pre-election agreement.
The victory of the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) party leader follows the withdrawal of the Azimio candidate for the seat Kalonzo Musyoka.
Kalonzo had written a letter to the Senate Clerk before the voting asking to pull out of the race.
“I want to draw to the attention of the senate and honourable senators that this morning Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, by a letter reference WDM/SEM/GC 2022, withdrew his candidature for speaker of the senate and will not appear on the ballot paper,” the Kalonzo letter read.
Others who were interested in the seat include; Fredrick Karuri Muchiri, George Njoroge Kuria, George Bush, Isaac Polo and Beatrice Kathomi.
Kingi in his acceptance speech thanked all senators who voted for him and promised to
execute his mandate in accordance with the Constitution of Kenya.
“I am profoundly honored and overwhelmed by the great honor and privilege you have bestowed upon me by electing me as your Speaker. I am touched by the immense confidence and trust you have placed in me.
“I therefore accept with humility and pledge that I shall perform to my utmost ability the constitutional responsibilities and duties of the office of the Senate Speaker for the next five years with diligence and decorum,” Kingi stated.
The former Kilifi Governor rode on the Kenya Kwanza numbers in the senate 37 out of 67-including 26 elected and 11 nominated.
Kingi was also voted in by a number of Azimio senators namely;
Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo), Abdulkadir Haji (Garissa), James Lomenen (Turkana) and Margaret Kamar (Nominated)
The others were from his Coastal backyard such as Mohamed Faki (Mombasa), Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Boy Issa Juma (Kwale) and Johnes Mwaruma (Taita Taveta).
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