Esther Anyieni to replace CS Soipan Tuya at the Senate

This comes after Tuya, who was initially nominated to the Senate by Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, assumed the position of Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary (CS).

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chair Wafula Chebukati made the announcement via a gazette notice dated November 1, 2022 in line with the provisions of the Elections Act, 2011.

"The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission in exercise of the powers conferred by articles 88(4), 90 and 98 (1) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya, section 4 of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act 2011, section 37 of the Elections Act, 2011 and Regulations 56B of the Elections (General)  Regulations 2012, amends gazette Notice No.10537 of 2022 Vol. CXXIV - No. 181 published on September 7, 2022," said Chebukati in reference to an earlier notice that had announced Tuya's initial nomination to the Senate.

"In the second schedule as specified below: delete Roselinda Soipan Tuya and insert Esther Anyieni Okenyuri. The deleted nominee stands excluded as a member of the Senate."

 Esther Anyieni was part of the Kenya Kwanza presidential campaign team and was the founder of the women for Ruto political faction.

In the second half of 2021, Tuya, the daughter of former Narok South MP Samson Ole Tuya, had declared her intentions to contest for Narok's governor seat at the August 9, 2022 polls under a UDA ticket.

She however dropped her bid in February 2022 after some convincing from President Ruto's camp. She took a small hiatus from politics before joining Ruto's campaign secretariat.