Long serving legislator and former Cabinet Minister Hon Moses Masika Wetang’ula is the new Speaker of the National Assembly.
Hon Wetangula who was running for the position against the Speaker of the 10th Parliament, Hon. Kenneth Marende, sailed through in the first round after Hon. Marende withdrew from the race, just as the second round was about to commence.
Hon. Wetangula had garnered 215 votes against Hon. Marende’s 130, in the first round.
Hon Wetang’ula bring to the National Assembly a great wealth of experience in Public Service. He first joined Parliament as a Nominated MP in 1993. He was later elected the Sirisia MP for two consecutive terms before he was elected the first Senator of Bungoma County in 2013. He retained his seat in the last election.
During his stint in Parliament, under the old Constitution, he also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2010 and from 2011 to 2012, and as Minister for Trade from 2012 to 2013.
In the race for the position of the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Gladys Jepkosgei Boss Shollei beat Daadab legislator, Hon. Farah Maalim to clinch the seat after garnering 198 votes against 139 for Hon. Farah. Hon. Farah however withdrew from the race saving the House a second round of voting.
For both positions, a candidate requires two-thirds in the first and second rounds, and a simple majority in the third round.
Hon. Shollei joined the August House in 2017 after she was elected as the County Woman Representative for Uasin Gishu county. She retained her seat in the just concluded election. Deputy Speaker Shollei becomes the second Woman Deputy Speaker in the history of the National Assembly after the late Dr. Hon. Joyce Laboso.
A seasoned lawyer and former chief registrar of the judiciary, she brings a vast experience into the leadership of the National Assembly.
