Shebesh Poised to Get Chief Whip’s Position

BY WANJOHI GITHAE
WEDNESDAY, 13 MARCH, 2013

Lobbying for various seats in the 11th Parliament has started in earnest as Members of Parliament elect and senators elect prepare to be sworn in next week Thursday. On Tuesday, a section of MPs elect met at a Nairobi hotel to strategise on how to fill in the post of the Chief Whip and Speaker of the national assembly.

The TNA affiliated MPs were grappling with whether to support some of the front runners including women representative - elect Racheal Shebesh, Kieni MP elect Simon Mathenge, Mithika Linturi (Igembe South) and Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurweini).

TNA will get the two positions while URP the principal coalition partner in Jubilee coalition is set to take up leader of majority and senate speaker. “We are careful on whom we elect once Parliament resumes, we are aware that debate will be rigorous and we cannot afford to make mistakes,” said a source who attended the meeting.

National acceptance The eighteen Mps agreed to front a person who will attract not only national acceptance but also the nod of the Cord coalition.

Shebesh who served as an ODM nominated MP in the 10th Parliament enjoys the support of most MPs and may see herself being handed the powerful position of chief whip.

If she gets the nod she will be the first woman to occupy the powerful position. “Though some MPs felt she erred by almost ditching governor candidate Ferdinard Waititu in the last minute, they felt they can work with her.

Linturi has a court case which is going against him, he may prove to be a hard sell,” said an MP elect who attended the meeting.

The Kieni MP was seen as a greenhorn. “Kabando was seen as too abrasive and many MPs were uncomfortable with him” said another MP elect.