The Mombasa County Assembly building. [Photo/ barakafm.org]
With the Mombasa County Assembly set to hold its first sitting next week after the swearing in of Governor-elect Hassan Joho, the race for the Speaker position is hotting up.
Several Joho’s allies are understood to be in the race for the coveted position which was formerly held by Thaddeus Rajwayi, who will not be in the race for the position following fallout with the outspoken Governor.Former Mombasa Mayor Ahmed Muhdhar, a close ally of Joho is the front runner for the powerful position.According to sources, the Governor is keen to get a Speaker who is loyal to the executive in a bid to avoid a repeat of what surrounded the tenure of Rajwayi.Former Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba who lost his seat to Wiper candidate Ali Mbogo is also in the race to occupy the position.Also eyeing the position is former Tononoka MCA Saad Faraj, another defender of Joho. With NASA boasting of 29 out of the 30 MCA positions in the County Assembly, Joho is expected to have an easy ride in settling on the candidate of his choice.