Race for Speaker post heats up in Nairobi, Kisumu

Lobbying for the speaker’s position in counties has intensified as various candidates emerged to seek the coveted seat.

In Kisumu County, four candidates are earnestly seeking the position while in Nairobi several have declared their interest.

Yesterday, former Ruai MCA John Kamangu (right) expressed his interest in the seat of a Jubilee Party candidate. Kamangu who in the previous assembly served as the Deputy Speaker said he has all that it takes to steer the third assembly in the right direction. “I am the most qualified person for this job. I have managed to restore order and harmony. I am also one of the longest serving councilors and this puts me at a better place since I understand what ails Nairobi,” he said.

Kamangu who failed to successfully defend his Ruai seat has previously served as the acting speaker in 2020 after the then speaker, Beatrice Elachi resigned.

Direction unclear

It is however unclear what direction the Jubilee party will take since the party has already picked Harrison Wangoro as its candidate. Speaking to People Daily, Wangoro said the party will meet next week to deliberate on the issue. “Jubilee party has already made a determination and I am fully in the race. My candidature has even received blessings from President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga,” he said.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has also fielded two candidates for the seat. The party is said to be fronting its legal director Antony Moturi but there are murmurs that former deputy speaker Ken Ngondi is also being fronted by some ODM MCAs.

Nairobi Senator elect Edwin Sifuna, in an interview, said the position was reserved for ODM but the Azimio family will soon meet to take a decision on the matter.

Though she is yet to come out publicly, Gender Administrative Secretary Rachel Shebesh is also said to be interested in the seat.

In Kisumu County, current speaker Elisha Oraro seeks to defend the seat against three other contesters who have since shown interest for the position.

Others already jostling for the speaker’s seat include the county’s Trade chief officer Alphonse Ouya, former assembly Majority leader Samuel Ong’ou and High Court advocate Ken Amondi.

Amondi will be making a third stab at the seat after he narrowly lost to former speaker Onyango Oloo in 2017.

On the other hand, Ongou, currently a liaison officer in governor Anyang Nyong’o’s administration and Ouya are first time contenders.The candidates have apparently been holding secret meetings with the elected 35 MCAs in efforts to woo them and get their support .