Candidates who were cleared to vie as members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) yesterday engaged in intense lobbying ahead of their election next week Thursday.

The nominees, who submitted their papers on Tuesday, spent the better part of the day in Parliament corridors engaging elected members to support them during the voting day.

Sources aware of the ongoing in Parliament revealed that the candidates not only talked to members individually but also engaged members from their regions as well as those in leadership to whip their members to support them on voting day.

 “You have seen the candidates here, the Speaker said they are allowed to come and campaign. This election is not an easy one, the lobbying is being done from the top. Members have also returned to their regions as they want their people supported,” said a member who did not want to be named.

The lobbying came even as it was understood that MPs from the Ukambani region had regrouped and were pushing for the re-election of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s son Kennedy Musyoka.

But even as the Wiper lawmakers were busy pushing for their candidate, a number of lawmakers from President William Ruto’s party were also planning to spoil the party for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) which is pushing for Raila Odinga’s daughter and Mombasa businessman Mohammed Shahbal as their preferred candidate.

According to sources, UDA’s lawmakers as well as those from Azimio la Umoja from the western region have planned for a weekend retreat in Maanzoni lodge, Machakos county beginning Sunday to strategize on how to ensure that former Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito will be elected to represent them in the Arusha-based Assembly.

The lawmakers argued that the Luhya community has not benefited like the rest of the communities which have been allocated slots not only in committees but also in the powerful Parliamentary Service Commission.