Azimio Nominates Ken Ng’ondi For Nairobi County Assembly Speaker

Vigorous campaigns are on-going as MCAs eyeing leadership positions in the assembly host luncheons to lobby their colleagues for support

By Adieri Mulaa

Azimio coalition has nominated former deputy speaker Ken Ng’ondi for the position of Nairobi City County Assembly speaker.

The Coalition has also forwarded the name of Mihang’o Ward MCA Kados Paul Kiguathi of Jubilee Party for the position of deputy speaker in a power sharing deal sealed by the party leader Raila Odinga.

Mr Ng’ondi served as MCA for Kware Ward and deputy speaker in the First Assembly between 2013 and 2017, under Speaker Alex Ole Magelo.

He has a grip on devolved government structures and functions, having served as an elected councillor in defunct City Council of Nairobi and the First Assembly at City Hall.

In a letter dated 24 August, 2022, the Orange Democratic Movement Executive Officer Oduor Ong’wen has written to the Clerk of Nairobi City County Assembly, Mr Edward Gichana, forwarding names the proposed nominees.

Mr Kiguathi is a long serving member of the defunct City Council of Nairobi and now a third term MCA. He is also the out-going majority chief whip in the Second Assembly.

It is also understood from the meeting that Kariobangi South MCA Robert Mbatia would secure the chairmanship of the Finance, Budget and Appropriation Committee. Mbatia chaired the committee in the Second Assembly.

On the Kenya Kwanza side, the name of Speaker Benson Mutura is being floated as the most likely UDA nominee for the position when the office is declared vacant.

However, out-going Langata MP, Nixon Korir has also been floated as a likely contender in the speaker’s election from the Kenya Kwanza side.

The UDA party has 36 elected MCAs and it is expected to scoop more nomination slots. This will up stakes of the alliance in its bid for the seat of the speaker, the lesser numbers not withstanding.

Currently, vigorous campaigns are on-going as MCAs eyeing leadership and positions and committee seats in the assembly host luncheons to lobby their colleagues for support ahead of the first sitting where a new speaker and deputy speaker will be elected.

On Friday last week, Abass treated MCAs to a lavish luncheon at a restaurant in the up-market Kilimani suburb to consolidate his quest for the seat of majority leader.

He seeks to replace out-going leader of majority, Mr Abdi Ibrahim Guyo, who was been elected the governor of Isiolo county in the August 9, 2022 general election. 

According to impeccable sources, Raila is said to have met and sealed a power sharing deal with the coalition’s MCAs who had declared interest in the position of county assembly speaker.

The meeting which took place at a high end city restaurant in the up market Kilimani suburb on Monday 22, August was attended by Mr Ng’ondi, Mr Kiguathi, former Gatina MCA Mike Obonyo Konyuka, the County Public Service Board Secretary Zack Owino and former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo.

Although Azimio has a majority in the assembly, the meeting was intended forestall any fallout that could cost the coalition the speaker’s seat.

A few Azimio MCAs and some insiders we randomly talked to confided in The Times Digital that the UDA was on a vicious mission to lure some MCAs from Azimio to vote for Kenya Kwanza in the speaker’s elections.

Accordingly, a plot reportedly hatched by UDA was stealthy being executed to ‘buy out’ at least three Azimio MCAs for the election purpose.

Makongeni Ward MCA and out-going minority chief whip Jateso Peter Imwatok, his South C Ward counterpart Abass Khalif, out-going deputy speaker Geophrey Majiwa (Baba Dogo Ward), Upper Savannah Ward MCA Stazo Omung’ala and Mabatini Ward MCA Wilfred Odalo are aggressively gunning for the powerful seat of Leader of Majority in the House.

Earlier on Odalo had declared his interest in the chairmanship of the Finance, Budget and Appropriation Committee.

Even though, Odinga is said to have asserted that the seat of majority leader would go to Western region and impressed upon those eyeing the position to lower their ambitions.

Accordingly, the Azimio leader has reportedly instructed that former Cabinet Minister and Westlands MP, Fred Gumo should convene a meeting of Nairobi MCAs from Western region to agree on one nominee for the position.

Former Busia county Woman Representative Florence Mutua has also been roped into the strategic approaches to ensure Azimio numbers count during the election of the county assembly speaker.

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