Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and NASA Leader Raila Amolo Odinga at a past function. [Photo/nairobinews.nation.co.ke]
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi’s preferred candidate has lost the race for the county deputy speaker. According to The Star, The Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) defied the choice of the deputy governor Caroline Kalume and elected Adu MCA Stanley Kenga.
The county boss had attempted to woo the 54 ward representatives, 19 of whom are nominated to vote for Kalume, but his efforts did not bear fruits. Kenga (ODM) defeated Kalume, a former employee in the office of the governor, in the second round after garnering 34 votes against his opponent’s 20 votes.
In the first round, Kenga managed to get 35 against Kalume’s 19 leading to a rerun after failing to meet the two-thirds majority requirement for one to be elected deputy speaker. The election of the deputy speaker was presided over by speaker Jimmy Kahindi after the Teddy Mwambire joined the Ganze parliamentary race.
Besides the deputy speaker, the MCAs also voted for Adamson Mwathethe (Shella) and Valentine Matsaki as the majority and minority leaders respectively.
Victorine Atieno of ODM was also nominated to represent persons living with various disabilities amidst concerns of having more nominated MCAs than provided in the constitution.