Former Kilifi county governor Amason Kingi is the new Speaker of the Senate.

Kingi was on Thursday Kingi got 46 out of the maximum 67 votes to be declared the winner in a first-round victory.

The former county chief  needed at least 45 votes to be declared the winner in the first round of voting.

According to house Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye the vote surpassed the two-thirds threshold of 45 votes.

The vote came after Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka changed his mid yet again and withdrew from the Senate Speaker race at the last minute.

Kingi who served as the governor of Kilifi for two terms will serve as the third Speaker of the Senate under the 2010 Constitution.