Kalonzo withdraws from Senate speaker race

The former vice president's move was announced by the senate on Thursday.

In Summary

• On Wednesday, Kalonzo dropped out of the race to become the next National Assembly speaker.

• Former Mombasa gubernatorial candidate Hassan Omar also dropped his bid to become the next Senate speaker on Wednesday.

Wiper leader and Kenya Special Envoy to South Sudan Kalonzo Musyoka during an interview with the Star at SKM Command Cenre in Nairobi on September 13.
KALONZO Wiper leader and Kenya Special Envoy to South Sudan Kalonzo Musyoka during an interview with the Star at SKM Command Cenre in Nairobi on September 13.
Image: File

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has withdrawn from the Senate speaker race.

The former vice president's move was announced by the senate on Thursday.

"Kalonzo Musyoka has withdrawn his candidature for the Office of the Speaker of the Senate," the senate said in a tweet.

He was set to battle it out with former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.

On Wednesday, Kalonzo dropped out of the race to become the next National Assembly speaker.

His withdrawal from the race came after his party's National Executive Council said it would be humiliating, according to NTV.

The Wiper council convened on Tuesday at the party's headquarters and convinced their party leader to drop his bid and focus on building his brand. 

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

Omar said after discussions with President-elect, William Ruto and other Kenya Kwanza leaders, they agreed to back 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.”

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