The Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has explained why he withdrew from the Senate Speaker’s race.

Kalonzo said the decision to pull out of the race was not personal but rather one arrived at after consultations with Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition allied senators, guidance from his party and Azimio top leadership.

According to Kalonzo, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio coalition leader Raila Odinga also consented and supported his withdrawal from the Senate Speaker’s race over claims that malpractices marred the process.

"The decision was not impromptu. I was well guided by my party and the Azimio top leadership after we realised the process had been marred with bribery. We decided that we needed to keep it clean and in that case, step out of the race," Kalonzo said.

Kalonzo also dismissed claims he withdrew from the race because of his last-minute move to avoid being humiliated by the former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi who won the seat after riding on the Kenya Kwanza Alliance push to clinch the seat.

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While dispelling allegations he was in talks with the Kenya Kwanza leader, President-elect William Ruto, Kalonzo affirmed his position in the Azimio coalition, terming the claims as frivolous.

He revealed he was taking a tactical retreat to plan his political future, which he said was bright.

"I have not had any consultation with Ruto and Kenya Kwanza. Those are frivolous allegations. I am taking a strategic retreat so that I can plan my political future which is still bright," Kalonzo said.