SENATE LEADERSHIP

Hassan Omar drops out of Senate speaker race, backs Kingi

Omar was among 15 people who had picked up applications for the position of Senate speaker

In Summary

•Omar said that after discussions with President-elect, William Ruto and other Kenya Kwanza leaders, they agreed to back former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.

•“I do not object to this, the position was reserved for Coast and hereby withdraw my candidature,” he said.

Mombasa gubernatorial candidate Hassan Omar accompanied with his running mate Sellina Maitha address journalists in Nyali where they demanded that all the IEBC officials be transferred ahead of the county gubernatorial election set for next week.
Mombasa gubernatorial candidate Hassan Omar accompanied with his running mate Sellina Maitha address journalists in Nyali where they demanded that all the IEBC officials be transferred ahead of the county gubernatorial election set for next week.
Image: FILE

Former Mombasa gubernatorial candidate Hassan Omar has dropped his bid to become the next Senate speaker.

Omar said that after discussions with President-elect, William Ruto and other Kenya Kwanza leaders, they agreed to back former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi as their candidate.

“I do not object to this, the position was reserved for Coast and hereby withdraw my candidature,” he said.

“I trust that all senators will support my brother Kingi as the sole Kenya Kwanza candidate as so agreed upon by all of us.”

Omar was among 15 people who had picked up applications for the position of Senate speaker including Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

However, Kalonzo has since dropped his bid for Senate and National Assembly speaker positions.

According to NTV, Kalonzo dropped the bid after his party's National Executive Council said it would be humiliating.

On Tuesday, the Wiper council convened at the party's headquarters and convinced Kalonzo to drop his bid and focus on building his brand. 

Most MPs believe that numbers don't favour the Azimio One Kenya coalition given that some of their partner parties have defected to Kenya Kwanza. 

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