3 cleared to battle for Nyeri County Assembly Speaker’s post
The battle for the Nyeri County Assembly Speaker's position has taken shape after three candidates were cleared to participate in the contest slated for Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
The contestants include former Tetu MP Gichuhi Mwangi, former nominated MCA Patrick Mutahi and Evans Irungu, who lost the Karima Ward seat in the August 9 election.
The Assembly is set to convene on Wednesday with new members scheduled to be oriented on house procedures tomorrow.
According to Mutahi, having been at the Assembly for the past five years, he feels he is in a better position to spearhead the house's business.
"I have been a nominated MCA in the Nyeri County assembly for the past five years and I understand the business of the house quite well so I'm fit to hold the office," Mutahi said.
He said that the battle for the seat will be a friendly match as all the contestants are members of the United Democratic Alliance(UDA) party.
Gichuhi touted as front runner in Nyeri Speaker's contest
However, Mahiga Ward MCA James Kanyugo who is serving a second term says that Gichuhi is a front runner and he is the best suited to occupy the seat that was earlier occupied by the now Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia.
Kanyugo, who is also seeking to recapture the position of the majority leader that he was holding in the previous House, said Gichuhi has great knowledge on matters of the house being a former Member Of Parliament and also a renowned lawyer.
"All those contesting are welcome but Gichuhi is a front runner in this contest, he is well versed with the matters of the law being a former MP and a prominent lawyer," Kanyugo said.
On his part, Nyeri County Governor Mutahi Kahiga urged MCAs to vote in a speaker with the right qualities to steer the assembly and the county into greater development heights.
"I want to urge our leaders to respect the party position on the election of the speaker. There is a stated party position and consequences are known to MCAs, let them respect it we want someone who we will work with to foster our county development," Kahiga said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said that as a party they had come to an agreement that the Governor's seat would go to Kieni, Deputy Governor Mukurwe-ini, Senate in Mathira, Woman Representative, Othaya and Speaker of the County Assembly to go to Tetu constituency.
