County assemblies across the country continue to elect and swear in Speakers as business for the new regional legislatures starts.
In Embu, Mr Josiah Thiriku was declared Speaker after it turned out that he was the only one who submitted his papers by Sunday.
He takes over from Mr Kariuki Mate who had announced that he will defend his seat but dropped out of the race. This is seen as a win for Governor Martin Wambora who has not been in good terms with Mr Mate.
Mr Stephen Munene is the Deputy Speaker of Embu County Assembly.
Governor Wambora congratulated Mr Thiriku after he was declared Speaker.
SAMBURU
In Samburu, no election for county assembly Speaker was held as only one candidate out of the two who were eyeing the position managed to return his nomination papers before the set deadline which was on Saturday.
Consequently, Mr Solomon Lempere, the county legal advisor has become the new Speaker as he returned his papers on time and had no opponent.
MAKUENI
In Makueni, former county Water Executive Douglas Mbilu won the county assembly Speaker’s position.
He was voted for by 35 out of the 47 ward representatives who cast their ballots, beating six challengers.
NYANDARUA
In Nyandarua County, outgoing Speaker Wahome Ndegwa retained his seat.
Mr Ndegwa thanked MCAs for electing him for a second time.
“It is a most humbling moment, it has not been easy. I thank my family for standing with me. I pledge equity. I will live to your expectations,” he told the assembly.
THARAKA-NITHI
Elsewhere in Tharaka-Nithi County, Speaker David John Mbaya was elected unopposed.
Six people had applied for the Speaker’s position but only three returned their application papers.
During voting, two of them were not proposed by two members of the assembly as law requires, thereby handing Mr Mbaya an easy win.
UASIN GISHU
In Uasin Gishu, David Kiplagat was declared the county assembly after he got 27 votes against his rival, Christopher Mitei, who garnered 20 votes.
HOMA BAY
In Homa Bay, county assembly members on Tuesday elected Elizabeth Atieno Ayoo as their Speaker following a tight race that went into the second round.
Ms Ayoo, a lawyer in Kisumu, beat Governor Cyprian Awiti’s Chief of Protocol John Apollo with 31 votes against 29.
Ms Ayoo was elected in the second round of voting after all the candidates who vied for the post failed to get the prerequisite two-thirds majority.
Other candidates participated in first round but did not manage to get into the second round of voting. They were Odoyo Owidi and Dickson Oruko Nyawinda.
Politician Brian Weke had qualified to enter the race but later withdrew.
The election was conducted under tight security following fears that goons could disrupt the proceedings. A similar vote in the neighbouring Migori County was last week disrupted by a gang of youths, leaving one MCA hospitalised.
Ms Ayoo replaces Samuel Ochillo who served as Speaker in the first Homa Bay assembly. He did not defend his seat and has since gone back to his private law practice in Kisii.
In her acceptance speech, Ms Ayoo called for unity, saying that this will enable the assembly to deliver its promises to the electorate.
She added that she will ensure that pro-development laws are passed in the assembly.
Reports by Grace Gitau, Godfrey Oundoh, Pius Maundu, Waika Maina, Alex Njeru, Dennis Lubanga, Barack Oduor
