• The Homa Bay assembly has had two substantive speakers who were Samuel Ochillo and Elizabeth Ayoo. Ochillo worked from 2013-2017 before Ayoo took over in 2017.
• Five people have also worked as clerks at the Homa Bay county assembly since 2013.
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
@robertomollo3
Five people have so far declared their interest in the Homa Bay speaker seat.
They are Governor Cyprian Awiti's chief of protocol John Apollo, former Homa Bay Town MP candidate and lawyer Humphrey Obach and retired head teacher Andrew Odek.
Others are former MCAs Evans Marieba (Gwassi North) and Julius Gaya (Central Karachuonyo).
Forty MCAs are expected to be sworn in when the county assembly resumes.
They will then begin the task of electing their new speaker for the legislative house.
Previous holders of the position have faced criticism in their work while others got impeached.
The Homa Bay assembly has had two substantive speakers, who were Samuel Ochillo and Elizabeth Ayoo.
Ochillo worked from 2013-2017 before Ayoo took over in 2017.
Since she was elected, Ayoo has worked under tribulations including impeachment.
She was impeached in 2018 and replaced with Evans Marieba in an acting capacity after being accused of abuse of office and mismanagement of resources.
The same accusations were leveled against Marieba who was later replaced with Kabondo West MCA Godfrey Anyango.
Anyango was impeached again and his place taken by Gem East MCA Elias Orondo before Ayoo returned through a court injunction.
Homa Bay Devolution Defenders Network Forum executive director Michael Kojo now wants MCAs to be extra vigilant as they chose their speaker.
Kojo wants a stable and rule of law compliant county assembly.
Currently, lobbying is on going to woo the MCAs.
“Homa Bay people don’t want to see a squabbling assembly as they have witnessed in the previous two assemblies. They should outgrow unnecessary and individual interests,” Kojo said.
He said wrangles in the Homa Bay assembly are linked to mismanagement of public funds.
Kojo said the same problems have also pushed MCAs to change their clerks.
Five people have worked as clerks at the Homa Bay county assembly since 2013.
The first clerk was Bob Kephas followed by Daniel Kaudo, Simon Oindo, Ochieng Day and Faith Apuko respectively.
Attempts to impeach Apuko however hit a snag due to a split among MCAs.
“Let a new crop of MCAs who are the majority comply with the laws guiding the assembly. Residents want services delivered for their development,” Kojo said.
On Wednesday Apollo, Obach and Gaya confirmed they are in the race for the seat.
Apollo said he has adequate experience that would enable him undertake his duties effectively should he get elected as speaker.
The chief of protocol acted as Homa Bay county attorney since he is a lawyer.
“I have the capacity and knowledge to be speaker. I understand the rules governing the legislative house to ensure it performs its duty effectively,” Apollo said.
Obach said he is best placed to take the seat due to regional balance. He argues that since he hails from Homa Bay Town constituency, he should be accorded the position.
Homa Bay is divided into three major regions Rachuonyo (Kasipul, Karachuonyo and Kabondo Kasipul constituencies) Suba (Suba North and Suba South) and Homa Bay, which has Ndhiwa, Rangwe and Homa Bay Town constituencies.
“Should the regional balance factor be adhered to, then I think I’m best placed to become speaker,” Obach said.
Gaya who hails from Rachuonyo also has higher chances of getting elected should MCAs from the region back his candidature.
“I’m in the race and may the best person win,” he said.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)