A past National Assembly sitting. [Photo|citizen digital]A total of seven applicants have been cleared to contest for Senate Assembly's Speaker's position.Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyangenyi on Tuesday, confirmed that four other applicants had also been cleared to contest for the Deputy Speaker's post.Those cleared for Speaker position include:1. Current Speaker David Ekwee Ethuro2. Former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim3. Dr James Gesami4. Immediate Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka5. Paul Gichuki Ribathi6. Govind Gorasia7. Immediate Migori Senator Dr Wilfred Machage.Those cleared for Senate Deputy Speaker's position include;1. Irungu Kang'ata2. Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja3. Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi4. Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, a former Nakuru County Assembly Speaker.At the National Assembly, current Speaker Justin Muturi faces opposition from Dr Noah Awinja, and Washington Onyango; while Kuresoi MP Moses Cheboi is likely to clinch the Deputy Speaker position, since he faces no opposition.Senators and MPs are expected to convene first 12th parliament sitting on Thursday August 31, to elect the speakers and their deputies, in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive. The process will however be halted, if Opposition elected leaders fail to show up in both Houses, as they threatened.The members-elect were shown around the National Assembly chamber by parliamentary officers, in preparation for Thursday's swearing-in and election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, Tuesday.

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