Uasin Gishu Senator Margaret Kamar Sworn in as Senate Deputy Speaker

Uasin Gishu Senator, Professor Margaret Kamar has succeeded Professor Kithure Kindiki as Senate Deputy Speaker.

Senate Speaker, Kenneth Lusaka declared Prof. Kamar as the duly elected Deputy Speaker after all other candidates pulled out of the race.

Kamar who had been fronted by the ruling Jubilee party has been termed as “the Handshake candidate.”  Speaking about Prof. Kamar, Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata said she had passed the Jubilee Party ‘loyalty test’ which he termed ‘a key requirement for any leadership position in the party’.

Kang’ata had early intimated that all other contestants would withdraw in favor of Kamar. “I can assure you all of them will withdraw in favour of Senator Kamar. There is no one else. It is her. We chose her on the basis of her loyalty to the party and her competence. As a party, we reward loyalty. She stood with us during the purge on disloyal members. When she is elected, we want tell her to continue supporting the handshake because it is the one that put her there,” said Mr Kang’ata.

The contestants who exited the race are; Stewart Madzayo (ODM), Charles Kibiru (Independent), Isaac Mwaura (Jubilee) and Judy Pareno (ODM).

Millicent Omanga was initially on the list of applicants but failed to return her nomination papers on time.