MP race losers now eye Murang'a assembly speaker job

@Alicewangechi

Six candidates are jostling for the position of speaker of Murang’a  assembly as the new leadership of the devolved unit takes over.

They include three politicians who vied for MP seats during the election but lost-Eric Kamande (Kigumo), Stephen Macharia (Mathioya) and Lawrence Munga (Mathioya).

Others include Johnson Mukuha, who coordinated UDA party presidential campaigns in the county, Newton Mwangi, the head of Governor Irungu Kang’ata’s campaigns’ team and incumbent speaker Nduati Kariuki.

Kamande served as the leader of the majority in the previous county assembly and also served as Kahumbu MCA for two terms.

He told the Star that his experience as the leader of the majority places him ahead of his competitors as he is exposed to dealing with MCAs and handling their issues.

Macharia vied for Mathioya MP seat under UDA but was defeated during the party’s nominations and helped campaign for the party contestants across the county.

Nduati has served in the position for two terms and, if elected, will be speaker for the third time.

This comes after MCAs elected under the UDA party elected Ithiru MCA Francis Kibe as the leader of the majority, while Kinyona MCA Elizabeth Mbugua will be his deputy.

Intense lobbying has commenced with candidates campaigning among the MCAs to be voted in.

Assembly clerk Kuria Thuita has confirmed that on an unspecified date after the MCAs are sworn in, candidates will be given 48 hours to officially lobby before elections are held.