Prof. Kamar now the only candidate for Senate Dep. Speaker seat

Judith Pareno has withdrawn her candidacy for the position of Deputy Speaker of the Senate.

In a letter addressed to Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka on Tuesday, June 2, Pareno said she arrived at the decision to pull out of the race “following consultations with the leadership of my Party, Orange Democratic Movement”.

“I hereby give notice of withdrawal as candidate for the election as Deputy Speaker of the Senate. Thank you,” wrote Pareno (a nominated Senator) in the letter.

Pareno’s withdrawal means Uasin-Gishu Senator Prof. Margaret Kamar will succeed Tharaka-Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki as the Deputy Speaker of the Senate, given Kamar is now without any opponent as all the four candidates have since withdrawn from the race.

Before Pareno’s exit from the contest, Senator Kamar was going into the race with an upper hand after the leadership of the Jubilee Party endorsed her candidacy.

The election for Deputy Speaker of the Senate was scheduled for Tuesday, June 2.

Besides Senators Kamar and Pareno, three other Senators had expressed interest to serve in the plum position. They included: Senators Charles Kibiru (Kirinyaga), Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi) and nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura.

Kamar holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, Canada. She once served as Cabinet Minister (Higher Education Science and Technology) during President Mwai Kibaki’s administration between 2011 and March 2013.

The now-Uasin Gishu Senator also served as an MP for Eldoret East between 2008 and 2013. She also served in the East African Legislative Assembly as a nominated member between 2001 and 2006.