Azimio MCAs differ on Nairobi Assembly Speaker post
Sharp divisions have emerged among the newly elected Ward Reps affiliated to Azimio over who to endorse for the Nairobi County Assembly Speaker post.
With lobbying still going on, Azimo is yet to make public which candidate they have settled on despite affiliate parties fronting individuals.
Last week, Jubilee nominated Harrison Wangoro, who vied for Embakasi North parliamentary seat on its party ticket but lost to United Democratic Alliance’s James Gakuya. However, MCAs elected under Jubilee have since rejected Wangoro, arguing that they had already settled on a different person.
“ In Nairobi, we have already settled on another person. We made this decision way before the elections. Wangoro is one of us but on this we tend to disagree,” Mihango MCA-elect Paul Kados said.
Wangoro has, however, dismissed Kados, maintaining that the former has no authority to speak on behalf of the party.
“People should stop taking Kados seriously. I am the Jubilee candidate and our SG has done this through writing. There is no way we will let this go. The Speaker’s position belongs to us,” he said.
Plum position has also attracted former Deputy Speaker Ken Ngondi of the Orange party.
Though ODM is yet to confirm its candidature, Ngondi says he has been given the green light to fly the party’s ticket.
Both roles
“I bring to the table a wealth of experience where I have been a councillor, chairman of the Public Health Committee and Deputy Speaker under the late Alex Ole Magelo between 2013-2017 where I served both roles for five years each to qualify me for the job,” he stated.
Contacted, ODM Secretary -General Edwin Sifuna said they are yet to communicate their nominee.
A section of Azimio members have also thrown their weight behind County Public Service Board member Jack Owino, who has expressed his desires to run for the seat.
“I have decided to run for the post of the Nairobi County Assembly Speaker after MCAs prevailed upon me to contest. I will respect their wishes as they are the employers of whoever desires to hold that post,” he said.
Former Gender, and Public Service Chief Administrative Secretary Rachael Shebesh, has also declared interest to vie for the seat. Incumbent Benson Mutura is also seeking to defend his seat.
