Nyong'o officers among four vying for Kisumu speaker job

Focus has shifted to Kisumu county assembly as candidates scramble for the speaker's position.

The position is considered one of the most powerful in the counties after the governor seat.

A number of candidates are jostling for the Kisumu speaker position that was previously held by Elisha Oraro, who will be seeking to defend the role.

The candidates include Trade chief officer Alphonse Ouya and former Majority leader at the assembly Samuel Ongou, who is currently a liaison officer in the administration of Governor Anyang' Nyong’o.

Ken Amondi, an advocate of the High Court who narrowly lost to former speaker Onyango Oloo in 2017 speaker’s race, is also among the contesters.

Amondi had his first stab for the seat in 2013, when he lost to Ann Adul, the speaker in the first administration.

The various candidates are busy and have intensified their meetings with the elected MCAs in secret locations to try and woo or win their support ahead of the speaker's election.

Some pundits say political alignments and clannism are likely to play a huge role in the election, but others dismiss that, arguing that ODM will have a say on who gets the post.

The Kano clan is already fronting Ouya, saying they have been given a raw deal in the current dispensation. The elders say the position should go to them since they did not clinch any seat in the concluded election.

According to Ouya, a lawyer by profession, he is best suited for the position given his wealth experience as a manager currently at the county and previously at the National Hospital Insurance Fund.

He exuded confidence he will clinch the seat, saying he has the numbers.

“This seat is mine. I am sure of a win because when elected, I will inject a sense of professionalism into the legislative body,” Ouya said. 

Ongou, on the other hand, said he wants to do more so that Kisumu is elevated to the next level under Nyong’o.

He said with Nyong'o's guidance and him as the speaker, they will concentrate on issues, including bills that would impact positively in the lives of the people of Kisumu.

Ongou said now that they are expecting Raila Odinga as president, they expect a stable assembly in Kisumu since it will be his home county.

Raila has petition Deputy President William Ruto's win.

The former Majority leader added that the outgoing assembly did not come up with anything new apart from previous pending items, and some of the bills they were boasting about such as the Trade Fund Act have been there before.

Ongou and Ouya are close allies of Governor Nyong’o.

However Oraro said as far as he is concerned, he has no contender in the race.

He said should there be any contender, then he is sure of a win because they have the numbers and also based on his past performance as the speaker.

Oraro said they have achieved a lot as a county assembly in terms of legislation and passage of bills.

“We have passed over 50 bills in the current assembly that touch on the lives of residents, both directly and indirectly within the county,” he said. 

(edited by Amol Awuor)