Intense lobbying for Nairobi Speaker post
Lobbying for the Nairobi County Assembly’s Speaker position has begun in earnest. Those in the race include former MCAs, unsuccessful Member of Parliament aspirants and civil servants.
Azimio la Umoja Coalition, which forms the majority in the House, is expected to produce the Speaker, Majority Leader, Majority Chief Whip and Budget and Finance committees’ leaders.
In April 2022, Azimio’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga said the Nairobi Speaker post would be given to ODM party.
Those who have shown interest for the seat include former Deputy Speaker Ken Ngondi, former Nairobi Woman Representative Rachael Shebesh, Harrison Wangoro — who vied for Embakasi North MP seat under Jubilee Party — and outgoing Speaker Benson Mutura (right).
The Majority Leader’s seat has attracted Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok, Baba Dogo MCA Geoffrey Odhiambo Majiwa and South C MCA Abbas Khalif.
By law, polls of the 47 county speakers in Kenya are supposed to take place immediately after the MCAs are sworn in.
The Standing Orders also state that there will be only two items in the order paper on the first sitting — the election of the Speaker and swearing-in of members.
A speaker shall be elected when the assembly meets after a General Election and before any other business, states the Standing Orders. Nairobi, for instance, is expected to hold its first sitting on September 9. The party of President-elect William Ruto, UDA , which has 36 MCAs at the assembly, is yet to comment on the matter.
