Lawyer Ruth Chemutai Chelashaw who is seeking to be the first woman Uasin Gishu County Assembly Speaker [PHOTO: Ruth Chemutai]
Members of the Uasin Gishu County Assembly are on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 expected to convene for a first sitting in which election of the Speaker will the main business of the day.
The post has already been advertised with the County Assembly Speaker setting Friday, September 1, 2017, 3pm as the dateline for the submission of applications from the interested candidates.
So far over 10 candidates have expressed interest for the seat among them Ruth Chemutai Chelashaw, who is considered among frontrunners for the powerful seat.
Chemutai, 30, who is currently working as a State Counsel in the office of the Attorney General in Eldoret town believes she had what it takes to be the head of the County Legislative arm.
"I know very well the roles of the Speaker and I understand that at the Assembly I act as a referee who's supposed to ensure all the players (MCAs) follow the law an set procedures," said Mrs. Chemutai in Eldoret, Thursday.
On reports that she was being fronted for the seat by Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago, the youthful lawyer said, "I vied for this seat out of my own heart. Nobody is pushing me as I am my own woman and the people's project."
For her to break the ceiling and become the first woman Uasin Gishu County Assembly Speaker, Chemutai will have to battle it out with deep-pocketed candidates in incumbent Isaac Terer and Christopher Metei.
Others in the race include Jane Jeptoo Masai, David Kiplagat and Ezekiel Kiyeng among others.