Assembly speakers eye ‘bigger’ seats in August elections
Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Anne Adul in a jovial mood on November 3, 2014 after her impeachment was quashed by the high court. She will be defending her post in the coming elections. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In Nyamira County, Mr Joash Nyamoko has declared interest in the North Mugirango parliamentary seat.
- Bungoma County Assembly Speaker John Makali is planning to defeat MP Wafula Wamunyinyi from Kanduyi.
A number of county speakers in western Kenya are leaving the assemblies in droves to fight for parliamentary seats in the August elections.
Speakers in Homa Bay, Nyamira and Bungoma counties have vowed to give the elected leaders a run for their money and are banking on their experience in running the county assemblies.
In Nyamira County, Mr Joash Nyamoko has declared interest in the North Mugirango parliamentary seat.
He was elected as speaker in 2014 after the impeachment of Mr Peter King’oina.
Mr Nyamoko of the Jubilee Party has been campaigning in the constituency currently represented by Mr Charles Geni of ODM.
“If the voters elect me, I will focus on development and equality. We need to change the type of leadership we currently have,” Mr Nyamoko yesterday told the Nation on phone.
Mr Geni, who has been endorsed by the elders, counts on his development record to retain his seat.
“The voters will judge the two of us on development. That is where I beat all my opponents,” he said.
Homa Bay County Assembly Speaker Samuel Ochillo said he will run for the Kasipul parliamentary seat.
Incumbent MP Oyugi Magwanga has shifted his focus to the gubernatorial race.
Bungoma County Assembly Speaker John Makali has already announced his interest in ousting MP Wafula Wamunyinyi from Kanduyi.
Mr Wamunyinyi is a member of the Ford Kenya party.
RE-ELECTION
In Migori County, former Assembly speaker Gordon Ogolla, who was impeached, is also eyeing the senate seat currently held by Dr Wilfred Machage.
Senator Machage has climbed down to run for Mathia Robi’s Kuria West parliamentary seat.
Speaking to the Nation, Mr Ogolla said he was sure he will win the seat.
“I have already declared my interest in the Migori senate seat and will be battling it out with whoever is interested. The people asked me to run for it,” said Mr Ogolla.
However, county assembly speakers Anne Adul (Kisumu), Dan Kitwa (Vihiga), Boaz Okoth (Migori), Maurice Buluma (Kakamega), George Okode (Siaya), Samuel Ochillo (Homa Bay), and Ondieki Okerosi (Kisii) are all keen to seek re-election.
They cited power sharing agreements reached in the 2013 polls.
“I will defend my seat come the next General Election.
“There is a way in which we share political seats in line with the negotiated democracy,” said Mr Buluma of Kakamega.
