National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 8 September 2022
The afternoon sitting featured a procedural clash over a disputed ballot before Hon. Moses Wetang'ula was declared elected Speaker of the National Assembly. In his acceptance, Wetang'ula praised gender parity, inclusive leadership, recent standing order reforms—including new committees and co‑sponsorship provisions—and urged the House to adopt e‑Parliament and paperless processes. Members debated whether Senator Moses Wetang'ula, as a Senator‑elect, was required to resign and whether he could be elected Speaker before taking the constitutional oath of office. The discussion invoked Article 74 and Article 99 of the Constitution, IEBC confirmation of his voter registration, and comparative practices in other jurisdictions, culminating in a call to vote on his qualification. The House detailed the secret‑ballot procedure for electing a Deputy Speaker, conducted the first round of voting and announced that no candidate achieved the two‑thirds threshold, prompting a second round. The Clerk counted the votes while the Speaker reminded members of procedural rules, and a point of order was raised with members offering congratulations to the newly elected Speaker.
Order, Hon. Members. Order. Hon. Members, the Ag. Clerk of the National Assembly, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon. Members here assembled for the high honour that you have bestowed upon me by electing me as the Speaker of this august House.
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This increase is a significant step towards achieving the aspiration of gender parity in representation as desired by our Constitution. I wish to single out Hon. Millie Odhiambo, who is now serving her fourth consecutive term. I salute you, Member for Suba North, for your resilience and continued service to our nation. Particular mention also goes out to Hon. Linet ‘Toto’ Chepkorir, Member for Bom…
Parliamentary Square. A project that was well executed under Hon. Muturi’s leadership. As the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), he has left behind an excellent and professional PSC. His communications and rulings on various constitutional practices and procedural matters were landmark, novel and rich in jurisprudence. I could go on and on, but all I can say is that he did …
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bounds of our Constitution and our governing statutes. In the exercise of our oversight function over State offices and public bodies, I will strive to ensure that all material information necessary for the work of Parliament is availed in a timely fashion by the persons in the national Executive ultimately responsible to this House. I shall strictly enforce the requirement enshrined under Article…
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Hon. Members, I now direct the Clerk to read the next Order and proceed with the steps necessary for the election of the Deputy Speaker. Thank you.
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Further, Hon. Speaker, I wish to notify the House that I received a letter from the Hon. Dr. Otiende Amollo dated 7th September, 2022, conveying the withdrawal of his candidature for election as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Pursuant to the provisions of Article 106 of the Constitution and Standing Order No. 5 of the National Assembly’s’ Standing Orders, the three Members who return…
in the presence of all Members and Members appointed as agents or representatives by the candidates. Each candidate is allowed a maximum of one agent for purposes of the ballot. Hon. Speaker, in line with the requirements of Standing Order No.7(1), a person shall not be elected as Deputy Speaker unless he or she is supported in the ballot by the votes of two-thirds of all Members during the first…
Order, Hon. Members. The Clerks-at-the-Table are requesting, and I direct, that you remain in your seats if you have not been called. That is so that we do not have too much crowding at the voting table. If you have not been called, resume your seats and wait for your name to be called. Then, you can come and cast your ballot. The Ag. Clerk of the National Assembly : Hon. Speaker, it appears to …
[(Voting in progress)]
[(Ms. Serah Kioko)]
[(A Member stepped forward)]
[(Several Members stepped forward)]
[(The Clerks unlocked the ballot boxes and proceeded to count the votes)]
[(Vote counting in progress)]
Order, Hon. Members! Order! Resume your seats please. Those standing in the aisle take your seats so that the Clerk, who is the returning officer of this election, can announce the results. The Ag. Clerk of the National Assembly : Hon. Speaker, having concluded the counting and tallying, I now wish to report the results of the ballot as follows.
[(Ms. Serah Kioko)]
[(The Clerk opened the ballot box and counted the votes)]
Total valid cast votes Spoilt ballots Abstention Total cast votes
Hon. Members, the Clerk having announced the final results of the votes I declare Hon. Gladys Jepkosgei Boss…
[(Hon. Speaker consulted with the Clerk)]
Sorry for the incisive enthusiasm. The Ag. Clerk of the National Assembly : Hon. Speaker, as per the results of the vote, no candidate has received the votes of two-thirds of all Members, as required under Standing Order No.71 as read together with Standing Order No.13 (3) . We shall, therefore, proceed to conduct a second round of election in order to determine the winner.
[(Ms. Serah Kioko)]
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
There is a point of order from the distinguished Member, Hon. Farah.
Hon. Speaker, to begin with, I want to congratulate you for having being elected as the Speaker of the 13th Parliament – National Assembly. Secondly, I want to thank all the Members who have participated in this election. They also had the honor and trust of their own electorates so as to become Members of this 13th National Assembly. Thirdly, I also want to congratulate my worthy opponent, Hon. G…
Thank you. Hon. Members, we must salute the magnanimity and sportsmanship spirit of Hon. Farah Maalim. Congratulations Hon. Farah, you have served this House before in the capacity you were seeking to serve again. Hon. Members, the Clerk having announced the final results of the votes, I therefore declare Hon. Gladys Jepkosgei Boss, Woman Representative for Uasin Gishu County, duly elected as the…
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I am advised that your journey must start from the Bar. So we may have to repeat that.
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30 p.m., the House stands adjourned until a date to be notified later. House rose at 10:36 p.m.