Kericho, Malindi set to elect new leaders in March
What you need to know:
- Mr Kazungu was appointed Mining Cabinet Secretary while Mr Keter took over the Energy and Petroleum docket during a reshuffle done by President Uhuru Kenyatta last month.
- National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and Senate counterpart Ekwee Ethuro wrote to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Wednesday indicating the vacant seats left behind by Mr Dan Kazungu (MP, Malindi) and Mr Charles Keter (Senator, Kericho) paving the way for the IEBC to pick a date for the mini elections to replace them.
Kericho and Malindi by-elections will be held on March 7, next year, after House Speakers declared the two parliamentary seats vacant following the appointment of the holders to the Cabinet.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and his Senate counterpart Ekwee Ethuro wrote to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission about the seats vacated by Mr Charles Keter and Dan Kazungu.
This paved the way for the commission to pick a date for the mini elections to replace them.
Mr Kazungu, the former Malindi MP, was appointed Mining Cabinet secretary while Mr Keter (former Kericho senator) took over the Energy and Petroleum docket during a reshuffle by President Uhuru Kenyatta last month.
The two submitted their resignation letters to their respective Speakers last Wednesday after the National Assembly approved their appointments.
“Pursuant to Article 101 (4) (a) of the Constitution, therefore, I hereby give notice that, following the resignation of Hon Daniel Kazungu, a vacancy has arisen in respect to Malindi Constituency and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission may, therefore, proceed to organise a by-election to fill the vacancy in terms of Article 101 (4) (b) of the Constitution,” said the Speaker.
The Constitution requires the Speakers to inform the electoral commission of any vacancy in the House through writing within 21 days after vacation of the seat.
Upon receipt of the writs, the commission is required to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy within 90 days.
Mr Ethuro also confirmed that he had written to the commission.
This is the second time elections are being called after an MP resigned to join the Executive.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery quit as Kajiado Central MP to join Mr Kenyatta’s government early this year.
Mr Keter assumed office on Tuesday with a warning that he will revoke licences belonging to inactive oil block owners. He also promised to deal with corruption in his office.
