TNA lawmakers plot to clinch House seats

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PHOTO | FILE TNA members have met to strategise on how to fill the posts of chief whip and Speaker of the National Assembly  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By NATION REPORTER
Posted  Wednesday, March 13  2013 at  00:30

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The National Alliance MPs on Tuesday met at a Nairobi hotel as lobbying for election to various seats in Parliament intensified.

The lobbying for seats in 11th Parliament comes as MPs-elect and senators prepare to be sworn in next week.

The lawmakers strategised on how to fill the posts of chief whip and Speaker of the National Assembly.

They discussed whom to support for the two posts, between Nairobi Women Representative Rachel Shebesh, Kieni MP-elect Joseph Mathenge, Mr Mithika Linturi (Igembe South) and Mr Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurwe-ini).

Under the Jubilee coalition, TNA is supposed to provide the chief whip and Speaker while its coalition partner — United Republican Party (URP) — will take Majority Leader and Senate Speaker.

A source at URP said the party’s spokesman, Mr Adan Duale, is likely to be fronted for the Majority Leader position.

A source who attended the TNA MPs meeting said: “We are careful on who we elect once Parliament resumes; we are aware that debate will be rigorous and we cannot afford to make mistakes on who we elect to various positions.”

Ms Shebesh, who served as ODM nominated MP in the 10th Parliament, was said to enjoy the support of most MPs for the chief whip post.

If she gets their nod, she will be the first woman to occupy the powerful post.

And although Ms Shebesh was accused of abandoning TNA’s Nairobi governor candidate Ferdinand Waititu at the last minute of vote chase, the MPs said they would back her due to her ability to work with everybody. The 18 MPs agreed to front a person “who will also attract not only national acceptance but also the nod of the Cord coalition.”

Others said to be fronted for the Speaker of National Assembly position are former Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohamed, former Garsen MP Danson Mungatana and former Siakago MP Justin Muturi.