Immediate former Member of Parliament for Ganze Mr. Teddy Ngumbao Mwambire is the new Speaker of the County Assembly of Kilifi.
Mwambire, the current chairman of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)) party, garnered 37 out of the 51 votes cast during the election conducted immediately after the swearing in of the 51 members of the third County Assembly of Kilifi Tuesday.
His closest challenger, businessman James Charo Mlewa, scooped 13 votes while Ian Amani Mkare, son to the current County Secretary Mr. Arnold Mkare Mlewa got one vote.
Six other persons who had expressed interest in the seat did not get any votes while one withdrew from the race.
Those in the race included former Garashi Member of County Assembly Peter Ziro, Eric Saburi, Caroline Andazi Chilango, Chiringa Menza, William Chengo, and Gerald Lewa Kithi.
County Assembly Clerk Michael Ngala, who presided over the election, declared Mwambire the duly elected Speaker after the latter garnered more than two thirds of the valid votes cast in the first round of voting as required by law and the assembly’s standing orders.
Mwambire was immediately sworn in by the clerk and adjourned the sitting to get dressed before presiding over the election of the County Assembly Deputy Speaker.
Mr. Naftali Nyae Kombo of Ruruma Ward (Jubilee) was elected Deputy Speaker after garnering 30 votes against Kayafungo MCA Agnes Sidi’s 20 votes in round two of the highly contested vote. Sidi was elected on an Amani National Congress (ANC) ticket.
During the first round, Mr. Kombo had received 21 votes against Sidi’s 20 votes while Sokoke ward Harrison Taura Mweni had gotten nine votes. All the nine shifted their allegiance to Kombo.
Speaking after being elected Speaker, Mwambire said he would work towards implementing bills that were passed by the previous house but have not been actualized.
Mwambire, who was the Deputy Speaker in the 1st assembly under Jimmy Kahindi said he would also ensure the appointment of village administrators, a feat that the Amason Kingi administration did not achieve.
On his part, Governor Mung’aro congratulated those elected and pledged to work with the assembly towards realizing the aspirations of the people of Kilifi County.
Former Speaker Jimmy Kahindi, who handed over to Mr. Mwambire, conceded that many of the laws passed by the assembly had not been implemented and hoped the new county administration would implement them.
By Emmanuel Masha
