Editor's Review

“Kenyans were perplexed when he (Kalonzo) picked papers to run for speaker in both houses," Boni Khalwale.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has torn into Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s decision to drop out of the Senate Speaker race in the last minute.

In a tweet on Thursday, September 8, the newly sworn-in senator claimed that Kenyans were perplexed when the former Vice President picked nomination papers for Speaker houses.

Khalwale wondered how Kalonzo quickly changed his mind from not running for the National Assembly Speaker post to dropping from the Senate Speaker race hours into voting.

“Kenyans were perplexed when he picked papers to run for speaker in both houses. Later he made up his mind for Speaker National Assembly. But again changed to Senate Speaker. Then alas, finally he has pulled out of the race for both houses all together. Steven Kalonzo Musyoka!” Khawale tweeted.

Kalonzo Musyoka.

Senators present in the Senate chambers were caught by surprise on Thursday morning after the Clerk of the Senate announced that Kalonzo had dropped out of the race.

According to the clerk, Kalonzo withdrew his candidature in a letter to the Senate on Thursday morning and therefore his name was missing on the ballot.

"I want to draw to the attention of the senate and honourable senators that this morning Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, by a letter reference WDM/SEM/GC 2022, withdrew his candidature for speaker of the senate and will not appear on the ballot paper," the Senate clerk stated.

The former Vice President had been fronted by the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party to run for the position, which was later clinched by former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.