Kenneth Marende
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Otiato Marende, born 7 January 1956, is the Speaker
of the National Assembly of Kenya
's 10th Parliament
. He was elected Speaker on January 15, 2008. Prior to his election as Speaker, Hon. Marende served as the MP for Emuhaya constituency, from 2002 to 2007.
(ODM) for the position of Speaker, received 104 votes, while the government's candidate, Francis ole Kaparo, received 99 votes; in the second round Marende received 104 votes and Kaparo received 102. Although a two-thirds majority was required in the first two rounds, subsequently only a simple majority was required, and Marende was elected in the third round with 105 votes against 101 for Kaparo.
He was elected to his first term as an MP for Emuhaya Constituency
on a NARC
party ticket in the 2002 election. He retained his seat in the 2007 election, but his election as Speaker meant that his seat was left vacant, requiring a by-election in his constituency. The by-election was held in June, 2008 and was won by Wilber Otichilo
of ODM.
In the 9th Parliament he was notable for supporting an amendment to the Sex offense bill that decriminalized marital rape. He made the famous quote on the floor of parliament that "Kenyans can still have sex with their partners even when they are asleep so long as they are married".
In April 2009, when parliament re-opened, he was forced to make a tough ruling on who should be the Leader of Government Business due to an impasse between the President and the Prime Minister. In his historic ruling, he temporarily appointed himself, based on parliament standing orders as the Chair of the House Business Committee until the impasses is resolved.
Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya
The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Kenyan Parliament .-Qualifications:The speaker is elected by the assembly from among persons or are qualified to be members of the assembly...
of the National Assembly of Kenya
National Assembly of Kenya
The unicameral National Assembly of Kenya is the country's legislative body.The current National Assembly has a total of 224 members. 210 members are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple majority system...
's 10th Parliament
10th Kenyan Parliament
The 10th Parliament of the National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya was opened on January 15, 2008, with the Orange Democratic Movement of Raila Odinga in the majority. Raila was a candidate in the 2007 presidential elections, which resulted in a controversial victory for Mwai Kibaki of the PNU...
. He was elected Speaker on January 15, 2008. Prior to his election as Speaker, Hon. Marende served as the MP for Emuhaya constituency, from 2002 to 2007.
Election of House Speaker
In the first round of voting, Marende, who was the candidate of the Orange Democratic MovementOrange Democratic Movement
Orange Democratic Movement refers to a political party in Kenya, which is the successor of a former grassroots people's movement which was formed in the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum. The erstwhile single party which separated in August 2007 into two...
(ODM) for the position of Speaker, received 104 votes, while the government's candidate, Francis ole Kaparo, received 99 votes; in the second round Marende received 104 votes and Kaparo received 102. Although a two-thirds majority was required in the first two rounds, subsequently only a simple majority was required, and Marende was elected in the third round with 105 votes against 101 for Kaparo.
He was elected to his first term as an MP for Emuhaya Constituency
Emuhaya Constituency
Emuhaya Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of four constituencies in Vihiga District, Western Province. The constituency was established for the 1963 elections....
on a NARC
National Rainbow Coalition
The National Rainbow Coalition was a coalition of Kenyan political parties in power from 2002 and 2005 when it fell apart in a controversy between its wings about a constitutional referendum.-Formation:...
party ticket in the 2002 election. He retained his seat in the 2007 election, but his election as Speaker meant that his seat was left vacant, requiring a by-election in his constituency. The by-election was held in June, 2008 and was won by Wilber Otichilo
Wilber Otichilo
Dr. Wilberforce "Wilber" Otichilo is a Kenyan politician currently serving as Member of Parliament for Emuhaya Constituency...
of ODM.
In the 9th Parliament he was notable for supporting an amendment to the Sex offense bill that decriminalized marital rape. He made the famous quote on the floor of parliament that "Kenyans can still have sex with their partners even when they are asleep so long as they are married".
In April 2009, when parliament re-opened, he was forced to make a tough ruling on who should be the Leader of Government Business due to an impasse between the President and the Prime Minister. In his historic ruling, he temporarily appointed himself, based on parliament standing orders as the Chair of the House Business Committee until the impasses is resolved.