Former Makueni county assembly speaker Douglas Mbilu has been elected as the third speaker for Makueni assembly.

Mbilu who was running for the speaker position for the second time has garnered 26 out of the 47 cast votes. His closest competitor Professor Philip Kaloki managed 21 votes.

The hotly contested speaker position had attracted 8 candidates but finally 5 were gazetted to vie for the position.

Earlier today, 3 candidates withdrew from the Makueni speaker race among them the first speaker of the Makueni assembly Stephen Mutunga Ngelu, Dennis Mung’ata and Muema Ndungi.

Despite Wiper Democratic party leader Kalonzo Musyoka distancing himself from assembly speaker elections across the Ukambani region, Mbilu received much support from Wiper elected and nominated MCAs.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr had also thrown his weight behind Douglas Mbilu after he learned that the candidate he was supporting Dennis Mung’ata was a bit unpopular. The county head persuaded Mung’ata to step down at the last minute.

Speaking after being sworn in speaker Mbilu who will now lead the Makueni assembly as speaker for the second time has thanked the mca’s for trusting him to work with them.

“I want to express my sincerest appreciation to honorable members for the confidence they have placed in me and I promise we will work together for the betterment of the county,” Mbilu said

He has also asked the members of the house to be sober and focused while partaking their work.

“I urge the honourable members to remain conscious that their interaction with each other in the house does not create division into polarized political positions,” Mbilu said

Mbilu who was governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr preferred candidate has promised to work with all elected leader’s from governor down to MCA’s.

It is a double tragedy for Professor Philip Kaloki who at first was in for the Makueni gubernatorial race and dropped the bid and joined gubernatorial candidate for Nairobi as Igathe’s deputy governor who lost to Johnson Sakaja in the August 9th general election.

Kaloki was a one-term member of Parliament for Kibwezi West and lost to Patrick Musimba in 2013.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, Senator Kitonga Maanzo among other leaders graced the swearing-in ceremony of MCAs and the speaker.