Ford Kenya party leader and former Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula has been elected speaker of the National Assembly.

Wetangula has replaced outgoing speaker Justin Muturi who served as the speaker of the 12th parliament.

The former Senator garnered 215 votes against Kenneth Marende’s 130 votes in the first round of voting at the senate chambers.

Wetangula was fronted by President-elect William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza camp. He was declared winner by acting National Assembly Clerk Serah Kioko after Marende conceded defeat.

"I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the honourable members here assembled, for the high honour that you have bestowed upon me by electing me the Speaker of this August House," Wetagula said in his acceptance speech.

Adding that; "I accept and submit to your will and I'm ready to serve as the eighth Speaker of the National Assembly since our independence,”.

Earlier before the announcement of Marende's concession, MPs had gone into the second round of voting to elect the Speaker after the first round of voting failed to produce an outright winner.

Wetangula went on to commend all the candidateS who had expressed interest in becoming speaker of the National Assembly.

“I commend all the citizens who expressed interest in becoming your Speaker by formally returning their nomination papers, and laud the efforts of my worthy opponent in today’s election; Kenneth Otiato Marende, who also happens to have been one of my distinguished predecessors having served as the 7th Speaker. I am internally humbled and extremely privileged to now occupy this hallowed seat.” he added.