The Senate on Monday, September 5, advertised the Speaker and Deputy Speaker posts following the gazettement of the first sitting by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

According to the gazette notice, the first sitting of the Senate of the 13th parliament shall be held on Thursday, September 8th, 2022 at 9:00 am.

Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye asked candidates interested in the seats to submit their applications by Wednesday 2:30 pm.

“Any person who is eligible for election as a speaker or as Deputy Speaker of the Senate in terms of article 1061 of the Constitution, and who is interested in contesting for these positions, is advised to collect nomination papers from the Office of the Clerk of the Senate on the first floor of the main Parliament buildings,” Nyegenye said during a press conference at Parliament Buildings.

“Starting Monday, which is today between 1 pm and 8 pm. You will note that we will open late beyond the ordinary sitting hours beyond the ordinary office hours, up to 8 pm so that we can avail the greatest opportunity for interested persons to collect the nomination papers,” he added.

Similarly, on Tuesday, the 6th of September 2022 between 7 am and 8 pm, he said his office will open early and will close late to give interested candidates enough time to collect the nomination papers.

Nyegenye said the office will also open at 7:00 am on Wednesday.

“Completed nomination papers together with a curriculum vitae of each candidate and relevant supporting documents should be returned to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate not later than 2:30 pm On Wednesday, September 7, 2022,” he held.

By Monday, two residents Isaac Aluochier and Oundo Jared Oluoch had already collected nomination papers for the Speaker’s position.

Article 106 on the election of Speakers states that a Speaker for each House of Parliament shall be elected by that House in accordance with the Standing Orders, from among persons who are qualified to be elected as members of Parliament but are not such members.

It adds the Deputy Speaker for each House of Parliament shall be elected by that House in accordance with the Standing Orders, from among the members of that House.

In preparation for the swearing-in of the senators, Nyegenye said the House will have a pre-swearing-in session, which will be held within the precincts of Parliament buildings in Nairobi on Wednesday, from 9:00 am.

Nyegenye asked senators to carry their original national identity cards or passports, the IEBC certificate of election, four recent coloured passport-size photographs, their bio-data and curriculum vitae, and a copy of a KRA pin certificate.