Nairobi Speaker Ken Ng'ondi Emotionally Kneels Before Raila, Thanks Him for Political Mentorship

 

Nairobi City County Assembly Speaker Ken Ng'ondi stole the show during the Orange Democratic Movement's (ODM) recruitment rally at the historic Kamkunji Grounds. Nairobi Speaker Ken Ng'ondi kneeled before ODM leader Raila Odinga. Raila Odinga hits the ground running ahead of 2027 elections The party, under the leadership of Opposition leader Raila Odinga, has hit the ground running to strengthen itself with eyes fixed on the 2027 presidential election. Despite losing the presidential race to President William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition gubernatorial candidate Polycarp Igathe to the United Democratic Alliance's (UDA's) Johnson Sakaja, Raila's faction enjoys majority status in the Nairobi County Assembly.  During the Sunday, February 4, event that heavyweight politicians graced from across the Opposition parties, one event stole the show and left those in attendance in awe, laughter, and confusion in equal measure. Why did Nairobi Speaker Ken Ng'ondi kneel before Raila Odinga? The city assembly's Speaker, Ng'ondi, after addressing those in attendance, took off his cap and gracefully walked to where Raila and other top party officials, including Secretary General and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Deputy Party Leader Wycliffe Oparanya, were seated. Walking with the microphone in hand, Ng'ondi was heard heaping praise on Raila and profusely thanking him for mentoring him politically and contributing to his ascendance to become Nairobi County Assembly Speaker. "Ahsante kwa kunipatia nafasi ya kuhudumu kama speaker, ahsante sana Baba (Thank you for helping me get an opportunity to serve as Nairobi's Speaker. Thank you so much, Baba," Ng'ondi was heard saying to Raila Odinga as he walked towards him, bowed, and then kneeled before the ODM leader. In a kind response, Raila touched Ng'ondi's head as a father does when blessing their children, in acceptance of the gratitude expression by Ng'ondi, a staunch ODM supporter. Ng'ondi is the fourth Speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly, having been substantively elected by the majority of the Opposition legislators in the house. His greatest task has been to prevail over strongly contesting Azimio la Umoja and Kenya Kwanza legislators in the assembly to ensure the business of the house and its mandates are executed excellently. Ng'ondi served as the deputy speaker during the first phase of devolution when Evans Kidero was Nairobi's governor. He served as the Kware Ward Member of the County Assembly then.  Ng'ondi is a lifetime ODM member and hit headlines last week when he defended the assembly for procuring a mace worth KSh 30 million. In 2019, reggae DJ and politician Christone Odhiambo, alias Kriss Darling, was criticised for kneeling before Raila Odinga. He defended himself, saying that he was not worshipping Raila and was showing him respect according to how his parents taught him. 

by  Michael Ollinga Oruko