The scramble for the Kiambu County Assembly Speaker has kicked off in earnest, so far attracting ten aspirants in what promises to be a tough contest.
Among those who have thrown in the towel include former Juja MP Stephen Ndicho, former Ngewa MCA and candidate for the senatorial seat in the just concluded elections Karungu wa Thang’wa, Thika Knut branch secretary Mungai Ngige and Thika advocate Mbiyu Kamau.
Also in the race is accountant Flavian Gatimu, immediate former speaker Gathii Irungu, businessman Njenga wa Mabati, former gubernatorial hopeful Aquiline Njoki and first county speaker Nick Ndichu.
Pauline Agondoa who was initially eyeing the county woman rep seat but lost in the Jubilee Party nominations is in the race too. Immediate former Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a was said to be interested in the post but pulled out.
Sources intimated that Governor-elect Ferdinand Waititu met the newly elected MCAs on Wednesday and attempted to lobby for Ndicho, a move that did not go down well with most of them.
Ndicho had unsuccessfully vied for the senatorial seat in 2013 and attempted to clinch the Jubilee ticket for the same seat during the party primaries earlier this year but pulled out after losing to Kimani Wamatangi.
Alice, who was the Jubilee Party nominee for Thika Town lost her seat to political newcomer Patrick Wainaina ‘Jungle’ who was an independent candidate. She could not be reached for comment.
Aspirants from the eastern part of Kiambu who include Ngige, Ndicho and Gatimu want the speaker contest to be decided on the basis of regional balance, arguing that most of the county prime positions including that of governor, senator and woman rep are held by people from the western bloc.