Tharaka Nithi Senator-elect Kindiki Kithure has been lobbying for the position, which has also attracted Meru Senator-elect and Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi.
The position on the office is expected to be taken by the Jubilee Coalition in the National Assembly and the Senate during the Tuesday retreat.
Prof Kithure, an ally of President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President-elect William Ruto, has been meeting Senators from Jubilee Coalition to seek support ahead of their swearing-in next week.
“I am contesting the position of Majority Senate Leader and I have been meeting with my colleagues from the Jubilee Coalition to rally them behind my candidature,” Kithure told The Standard On Saturday on Friday on telephone.
Igembe South MP-elect Mithika Linturi said the Tharaka Nithi-Senator-elect was better placed for the position owing to the crucial role he played in the formation of the Jubilee Coalition.
“Apart from being one a key architect in the formation of the Jubilee Coalition, Kithure was also a major player in the campaigns for Uhuru in Mt Kenya West region,” Mr Linturi said.
Support
The lawyer is also said to enjoy support from URP MPs by virtue of being Ruto’s lawyer at the International Criminal Court at The Hague where the two face charges related to the 2007/08 post-election violence.
Mr Kiraitu faces an uphill task of convincing the 67 senators to support him owing to the fact that APK trails in numbers in Jubilee.
Apart from Kiraitu, the only other APK senator-elect is Lenny Kivuti of Embu County.
“Kiraitu will have to confront questions over his lukewarm support for Uhuru during the campaigns and the fact that he denied TNA a clean sweep in Mt Kenya region by fielding candidates on APK ticket,” A minister from Mt Kenya said.
Nyeri Senator-elect Mutahi Kagwe is also in the race for Majority Leader. Mr Kagwe, who was elected on a Narc ticket is seeking the position following the failure by party leader and Water Minister Charity Ngilu to secure nomination.
Ngilu, a key Jubilee Coalition leader was defeated in Kitui Senate race.
The CORD side is fronting Kenneth Marende for National Assembly Speaker, Farah Maalim for Senate Speaker, Johnstone Muthama Leader of Majority/Minority Senate while Ababu Namwamba and Jakoyo Midiwo’s names are being floated for the chief whip position in Parliament.
- Standard Digital
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