Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s party ODM has nominated former Nairobi County Assembly deputy speaker Ken Ngondi for the position.
The office of the Speaker is recognized in section 31 of the Constitution Act. The Speaker is described as the Legislative Assembly’s “independent and impartial representative”.
Pursuant Article 178(1) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 provides that each County Assembly shall have a Speaker elected from among persons who are not Members of the County Assembly.
Ken as popularly known is a close friend to the late Fidel Odinga who was first born to Mr. Odinga.
Mr. Ken Ngondi has already confirmed that he is ready to take up the post since he doesn’t hold office as stipulated by the constitution.
Between 2013-2017, Mr. Ngondi served as deputy to the late speaker Ole Magelo while also he served as a member of the County assembly Kware Ward in Embakasi South.
In the just concluded election, Mr. Ken shelved his ambition to contest for the Embakasi South constituency seat on an ODM ticket in favor of incumbent Julius Mawathe(Wiper).
He will be expected to battle it out with Wangoro Mwangi (Jubilee) who was endorsed on Friday by the party officials.
Azimio la Umoja in Nairobi County in just concluded election got the following seats, Jubilee (6), ODM (35), and Wiper party (4).
On the other hand, Kenya Kwanza led by DP Ruto scored, UDA (35), and Chama cha Kazi (I). There were only two candidates elected on independent tickets.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Ken Ngondi has said that he has the backing of the party leader and elected MCAs.
He expressed confidence that he will serve the Azimio equally despite him being from the ODM party.
“I also wish to request your support from all Azimio MCAs because this is a position that we must all agree that we want to take Nairobi forward and I think everyone is open to the task and having acted as deputy speaker, I know I’m ripe for the task,” he said.
Political analyst and former MP aspirant Starehe constituency Kamau Mwende (ODM), the party with a majority representative deserves the speaker position.
He said that the ODM party has been performing well in the County leadership and deserve to be given the mandate to put UDA in the balance.
“From My view, ODM deserves the seat as it has majority representative and Jubilee should seek another position, “he said.
In 2020, Deputy Clerk Pauline Akuku shortlisted Mr. Ken Ngodi as a suitable candidate to succeed Beatrice Elachi after she was impeached by the assembly members
The educational requirement for the speaker position is a post-secondary school qualification recognized in Kenya according to Section 22 (1) of the Elections Act 2011.