Kalonzo withdraws from Senate speaker race

The announcement was made by Senate clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye while reading out the names of all the seven candidates whose names had been fronted for the position.

“For the position of the Speaker of Senate, the following seven candidates were validly nominated as at the close of the nomination period; Issac Aluochier, George Bush, Karuri Fredrick Muchiri, Kingi Amason Kefa, Kinyua Beatrice Gathomi, Kuria George Njoroge and Musyoka Stephen Klaonzo,” Mr. Nyegenye said.

He however went ahead to notify the House that Kalonzo had, in a letter dated Thursday, September 8, pulled out of the race.

“A candidate may by written notice withdraw his or her candidature before the ballot is started. In this regard, I wish to draw the attention of the Senate to the fact that this morning, September 8, his excellency Stephen Musyoka withdrew his candidature for the position of Speaker of the Senate and his name will accordingly not be appearing in the ballot,” he said.

Following the clerk’s announcement, Senators allied to the Azimio La Umoja coalition walked out of the House, waving and blowing air kisses to their Kenya Kwanza Alliance counterparts.