Murungi Kathuri, a Meru senator, was elected as the Senate’s deputy speaker after Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo dropped out of the race.

Madzayo was elected under ODM, an affiliate party of the Azimio La Umoja coalition.

Amason Kingi, the newly elected speaker, announced Kathuri’s election.

Kingi explained that there was no need to vote because the standing orders empowered him to name the deputy speaker if there was only one candidate.

“Standing order 11 provides that if there is only one candidate who had been duly nominated as deputy speaker, that candidate shall be elected forthwith without any being election being conducted be declared as the deputy speaker,” Kingi announced.

Immediately after his declaration, Kathuri took an oath of office which was administered by the clerk of the Senate in the presence of Kingi.

Kathuri was elected as Meru senator in the concluded August 9 polls and his candidature had been backed by parties allied to the Kenya Kwanza faction.