Tim Wanyonyi on supporting Wetangula's speaker bid; 'He is my brother but…'

Wanyonyi belongs the ODM Party in the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition while Wetangula leads Ford Kenya, which is under the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the voting exercise for both National Assembly and Senate speakers, Wanyonyi said although Wetangula is his brother, their being in competing political camps was also a huge factor.

“I cannot disclose that because my vote is a secret. He is my brother but as you know, we are on different political sides so you never know how that will play out,” he told Citizen TV after being asked whether he would vote for Wetangula. 

MPs cast their votes in a secret ballot to elect the speakers of both Houses immediately after their swearing-in, in a ceremony presided over by the National Assembly clerk Serah Kioko.

Wetangula will be battling it out with former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende of the Azimio camp.

Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Boss seeks to deputise Wetangula, while Azimio has fronted MP Farah Maalim for the National Assembly deputy speaker post.

The National Assembly will have 349 MPs and 12 nominated members of parliament. Raila Odinga’s Azimio commands a majority with 167 members against 159 members of the President-elect William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza coalition.

Meanwhile in the Senate, Azimio agreed to nominate Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka for the speaker seat and ​​Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo for the Senate Deputy Speaker post.

Kalonzo will be facing former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi who has been picked as Kenya Kwanza Alliance’s choice, and Isaac Mwaura.

The Senate will have 47 members and 20 nominated Senators. Of these, Kenya Kwanza has 24 Senators while Azimio has 23.