Lobby petition County Assembly of Kisumu on the candidature of acting Speaker.

By Dickson Odhiambo

January 20, 2020

Lobby petition County Assembly of Kisumu on the candidature of acting Speaker.

A LOBBY Group in Kisumu has petitioned the County Assembly of Kisumu wanting to know the suitability of the current acting Speaker Elisha Jack Oraro to contest the position of the Speaker which has been declared vacant.

The group want the office of the Clerk of the County Assembly to inform it in writing within the next one day of the suitability of Mr. Oraro to contest the Speaker’s seat.

In a letter dated today January 20, 2020, the group known as Kisumu Citizens Coalition Watchdog has written to the Clerk of the County Assembly asking to know if the acting Speaker has resigned as an MCA representing North Kisumu ward thus allowing the position to be vacant pursuant to Article 194 {1} {d} of the Kenya constitution 2010 that talks about vacancy in the of the Member of the County Assembly.

Addressing the press in Kisumu after presenting the petition to the County Assembly today, the group led by Alex Wadegu, Salim Onyango, Isaiah Omondi and Ali Simira want to know from the office of the Clerk of the County Assembly whether Oraro’s resignation letter has been received by the office of the Speaker.

They say they have written the petition as residents of Kisumu County who want to know whether the law is being followed in regard to the forthcoming election of the Speaker of the County Assembly of Kisumu.

“We kindly request the due process should be followed in the forthcoming election of the Speaker of the County Assembly of Kisumu,” they say.

They say the law does not allow a serving MCA to vie for the position of the Speaker of the County Assembly of Kisumu unless he or she resigns hence urge Oraro to resign first before contesting the seat.

Last Week on Thursday January 16, Clerk to the County Assembly of Kisumu advertised a vacancy in the office of the Speaker of the County Assembly of Kisumu.

The advert read in part “Notice is given that the office of Speaker of the County Assembly of Kisumu has fallen vacant; consequently, Pursuant to Article 178 {1} of the constitution of the Republic of Kenya, Section 21 of the Election Act 2011 and Standing Order number 4 of the County Assembly of Kisumu Standing orders, a special Sitting of the county assembly of Kisumu for the purpose of electing the Speaker has been convened on January 24, 2020 at 9:30 am in the Assembly Chamber , Assembly Building,” 

The advert further require persons who are eligible for the selection as the Speaker of the County Assembly in terms of Section 21{1} of the Election Act and Standing Order number 4 and who are contesting for this position are advised to collect nomination papers from the office of the Clerk and return the completed application forms, Nomination papers as well as other relevant documents by next Tuesday January 21.

So far three Lawyers have declared their interests to vie for the position of the Speaker County Assembly of Kisumu. They Kenneth Amondi, Geoffrey Yogo and Jared Sala.

North Kisumu Ward MCA Elisha Jack Oraro who is currently acting as the Speaker of the County Assembly is said to be contemplating resigning as an elected ward representative so as to vie for the position.

He was elected as acting speaker in September last year after the Members of the County Assembly impeached then Speaker Onyango Oloo who later moved to court but the court in December last year upheld his impeachment.

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