Tana River,KENYA:Former Tana River county senatorial hopeful Justin Nkaduda has been elected as the Tana river county assembly speaker.
Nkadunda who was eyeing the senatorial seat on an ODM party ticket garnered 15 votes against former deputy speaker Hassan Dube’s 8 votes in a second round of voting.
The seat had attracted twelve applicants who included former Galole Mp Mr. Hassan Dukicha, former Garsen mp Mr. Ibrahim Sane, gubernatorial candidates Mr. Danson Buya Mungatana, Anania Karhayu Deye, former Tana River assembly clerk and candidate for Bura parliamentary member Mr. Mohamed Hassan
Dube, former deputy speaker and Chewani MCAs Mr. Mohamed Salim Aribicho, former senatorial candidates Mr. Bakari Garise Omara, Mr. Omar Kofa Komora, Mr. Michael Justin Nkaduda, former Hirimani ward MCA aspirants Mr. Daud Galdesa Tuyo, Mr. Hassan Malibe Morowa and Mr. Ishaaq Buya.
In the first round of voting Nkaduda had 14 votes while Dube got 8 votes against Mr. Dukicha’s one vote.
With none of the candidates garnering the 2/3 required to be elected as speaker, a rerun which was between Mr. Nkaduda and Dube put Mr. Nkaduda as the winner after he garnered 15 votes while his opponent remained at 8 votes.
Mr. Mungatana Danson, Ibrahim Sane and Ishaaq Buya didn’t appear in the ballot process as they had earlier withdrawn from the contest.
Speaking to Baraka FM on phone, former Garsen member of parliament said he decided to withdraw from the race due to unavoidable circumstances.
“I decided to withdraw from the contest and I wrote a letter in my withdrawal and I said it was because of unavoidable circumstances,” Mr. Mungatana confirmed.
Former Garsen MP Ibrahim Sane also withdrew from the race though he did not explain his reasons.
The county assembly will have 23 members which comprises of fifteen elected members and 7 nominated members unlike the last county assembly which has 26 members.
8 women who include Ms. Fauzia Hachewele Sadik for Sala ward, Roda Katisha for Garsen South and Sauda Maiya Loda for Chewani ward and nominated MCA’s Fatuma Diramo representing gender, Maryam Guracho Hargamso representing gender, Faith Tumaini representing Youth, Salma Gawachu representing youth, Firo Hija Finan representing minority will be in the county assembly.
Nomination for male members went to Mr. Said Godana representing persons living with disabilities, Osman Haji for minority and Gurati Hassan for youth.
The speaker election exercise took place after the swearing in of the 23 members of county assembly.