Kennedy Kalonzo has thanked members of the Senate and the National Assembly for voting him to represent the country at the East African Legislative Assembly.
Speaking shortly after voting ended Thursday evening, Kennedy said the decision by the legislative Houses to send him to the regional Assembly for a second time demonstrates the confidence they have in his abilities.
"Let me start by thanking God for this important trust bestowed on myself and my new colleagues. I also want to thank my committee who were worried that they would miss their chair," Kennedy said.
He extended the vote of thanks to Kenyans through their representatives and the majority and minority leadership of both Houses.
Kennedy is one of the four members elected to the EALA from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition. He garnered 262 votes.
Others are Winnie Odinga (247), Kanini Kega (197) and Shahbal Suleiman (181).
This is the second time Kennedy, a lawyer by profession, is elected in the EALA.
His debut entry was in June 2017 when he was nominated to the regional legislative body by his father's party, the Wiper Democratic Movement.
Kennedy said he will use his experience in the House to orient the new members from Kenya on the business of the Assembly.
"I will be the institutional memory, last time I had the pleasure of working with some of my wonderful colleagues like the chair of the coordinating committee and I was able to learn a lot from all of them so now it's my turn to give back to the new members," he said.
He expressed optimism that in future, more youthful members will be elected into EALA to provide more institutional guidance.
