Race for Murang’a Assembly Speaker Attracts Six Candidates

The race for the Murang’a County Assembly speaker is heating up, days before the ward representatives-elect are sworn in.

The race has attracted at least six individuals. Even though the assembly has yet to sit, there has been strong lobbying for the position, with interested parties meeting with MCAs-elect.

After MCAs take oath of office, the first item on the agenda is always the election of the assembly Speaker.

Nduati Kariuki, the outgoing speaker, is running for re-election after serving two terms.

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Mr Kariuki, who holds a bachelor of arts in land economics from the University of Nairobi, is up against young contenders including former majority leader Erick Kimani.

Mr Kimani, who announced his candidacy, is confident he has the skills and expertise necessary to lead the assembly.

“I believe I am the right person to steer the county agenda in the assembly. Having been in the assembly for two terms, I understand how the institution works and [‘I’m] thus best suited for it,” he is quoted by the Nation.

Mr Kimani, an independent candidate, finished fourth in the race for the Kigumo parliamentary seat.

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Stephen Macharia, who ran for the Mathioya parliamentary seat but was unsuccessful during the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominations, is one of the other candidates for Speaker.

Mr Macharia, 32, is one of the founding members of Kenya Kwanza in Murang’a. He has a degree in community development and is pursuing a master’s.

Johnson Mukuha, who unsuccessfully sought the Kangema parliamentary seat, is one of the other contenders.

Newton Mwangi, a businessman who oversaw Governor Irungu Kang’ata’s campaign, and Lawrence Munga, a young businessman who unsuccessfully sought the Maragua parliamentary seat, are two other candidates.

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According to Kuria Thuita, the assembly clerk, they are waiting for Governor Irungu Kang’ata to call the assembly’s first meeting so that MCAs can take their oaths of office.

“We are waiting for the list of the members who will be nominated to the assembly. The candidates will then be given the nomination papers for the seat [so that they can] go and lobby … the MCAs,” Mr Kuria told the daily.

The assembly will begin vetting candidates to fill slots in the County Executive Committee as well as chief officers once a Speaker is chosen.

UDA continues to front the names of the majority leader, deputy Speaker, minority leader, and whips.

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It has been a balancing act to fill the roles while recognizing loyalty, distributing of power in the area, and accommodating election losers.

There are 35 MCAs in Murang’a County: 28 from the UDA, two from the ANC, one from the PNU, and four independents.