List of County Assembly Speakers Elected in Nyanza, Western Kenya

• Some Members of County Assembly have elected their speakers as they start dispensing services to the electorate
• The assembly Speakers will be expected to preside over the debates of the county assembly at every sitting of the assembly
• They will also be tasked with maintaining the county assembly attendance register

Members County Assemblies have been sworn-in in the majority of devolved units.

After their swearing-in, they embarked on a democratic exercise to elect the Speaker of their respective county assemblies.

Homa Bay County Assembly

Members of County Assembly in Homa Bay unanimously elected Julius Gaya as the third Speaker of the House.

Gaya garnered 40 votes trouncing his closest competitor Evans Marieba who managed only 14 votes.

In his acceptance speech, the new Speaker applauded female MCAs who took oath of office in the House.

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“In a special way, allow me to appreciate the women leaders who have been legally elected to be in this house in the just concluded election,” he stated.

He stated that the female leaders had gone against societal beliefs and are now in leadership positions.

Gaya’s deputy, Samuel Okomo, managed 40 votes to win himself a position in the House against Samuel Ogono.

Okomo is the MCA for Rusinga ward in Homa Bay county.

Julius Gaya’s professional life

He was the chairperson of the finance and appropriation committee in Homa Bay county government.

The new speaker also served as a member of county assembly for Central Karachuonyo ward for two terms.

A string of court cases

He was accused of assaulting the then Speaker Elizabeth Ayoo in the company of other unidentified men.

The assault case was heard by a Kisumu Magistrate on October 16, 2018, and the perpetrators were freed on a KSh 250,000 bond each.

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They had been remanded at Kodiaga prison and were released on November 21, 2018.

Kakamega county assembly

James Namatsi was vote elected as the Speaker for the Kakamega County Assembly.

Namatsi took over from his predecessor Morris Buluma who had served as Speaker since the inception of devolution.

He was elected in the first round by 60 members of county assembly out of the 89 who took part in the House democratic process.

The seat was being eyed by 10 candidates, including ex Shinyalu mp Justus Kizito, and former Kakamega senatorial candidate Brian Lishenga. They were dismissed on allegations of failing to meet the required standards before vying for the seat.

In his acceptance speech, Namatsi vowed to work closely with the MCAs for the well-being of the people.

“I will closely work with the entire leadership to ensure our resources are well managed to the advantage of our people,” Namatsi said.

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He, however, called out to the MCAs to put aside their political differences and concentrate on what they were entrusted to do.

“Let’s put our hands together to embrace a positive change,” he pleaded.

He also promised to harmonize the house to avoid battle lines in the assembly.

Bungoma county assembly

Emmanuel Situma retained his seat as the Bungoma County Assembly Speaker after defeating former Khalaba ward MCA Henry Okumu Majimbo with 37 votes against 24 in the second round of voting.

Additional reporting by Dennis Avokoywa, Sarah Zadock, Collins Mmbulika and Florence Owiti

Source: TUKO.co.ke