• “We do not have a choice, the governor was elected by the people of Nairobi, they chose Sakaja. We must support him,” Ng'ondi said.
• He also said he will be a symbol of unity and his effect will be felt amongst the minority and majority side of the assembly.
Image: WILFRED NYANGARESI
Nairobi speaker Kennedy Ng’ondi has said he will serve tirelessly and focus on the delivery of their agenda.
He also said he will be a symbol of unity and his effect will be felt amongst the minority and majority sides of the assembly.
Ng'ondi spoke during a church function in Embakasi, Nairobi, on Sunday.
He said he will give MCAs equal and fair chances to articulate issues that affect Nairobi residents.
"The speaker presides over the assembly to make sure members articulate issues well, remain steadfast and within the agenda as spelt in the order paper," Ng’ondi said.
The speaker also pledged to work together with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja despite their political differences.
“We do not have a choice, the governor was elected by the people of Nairobi, they chose Sakaja. We must support him. We don’t have to bring in issues that will hinder service delivery to the people of Nairobi,” he said.
To avoid conflicts of interests at the assembly, Ng’ondi said he will stand firm in making critical rulings as prescribed in the Constitution and standing orders of the house.
"I am much alive to the fact that, that is a house of debate and under normal circumstances there will always be conflicting interests and difference in opinion," Ng'ondi said.
"However, at the end of the day you must make a ruling as prescribed in the Constitution and as provided in the standing orders."
Ng’ondi vowed to be dedicated to serve the people of Nairobi regardless of their political inclinations.
The former Kware MCA was elected last week as the fourth Nairobi speaker after garnering 68 votes against his closest contender Hassan Robow who got 55 votes out of the 123 votes cast.
This was the second round of voting.
In the first round, clerk Edward Gichana said no one attained two-thirds, which is 82.
Ng’ondi had 71 votes while Robow got 52.
He however, claimed that there was an attempt to bribe Azimio MCAs in order to rig him out of the speaker’s race.
The speaker made the allegations while on a retreat in Maanzoni with Azimio-affiliate members last week.
He said he was notified that a group of people had been sent to buy out some of the ward representatives.
According to him, the MCAs were sent by a recently named Cabinet Secretary nominee, who targeted a few elected and nominated MCAs.
They offered a bag of goodies including top positions in the ministries.
"One of the MCAs was asked to resign so that he can be appointed as a principal secretary in one of the ministries," Ng'ondi said.
"He was asked to go and sign his resignation letter, which had already been drafted."
This is said to have happened on the eve of the election at 11.30pm on September 28.
"MCAs were told that they would be given Sh10 million each while the leader who mobilised them would pocket Sh20 million, which would be paid instantly," the speaker said.
He however said the Azimio section rejected the goodies, remained firm and kept their allegiance to party leader Raila Odinga.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)