Turkana MCAs re-elect Speaker

Christopher Nakuleu follows proceedings during the 2022 Mashujaa Day celebrations held in Lodwar. [Lucas Ngasike, Standard]

Turkana county assembly has unanimously re-elected Speaker Christopher Nakuleu after the High Court ordered a fresh election.

The High Court issued the order after Abraham Losinyen and Derrick Epae contested the Speaker's election after they were locked out of the race for alleged failure to meet the set requirement.

The duo sued the assembly Clerk Linus Miinyan Lokawa.

On September 20, last year, Mr Lokawa declared Mr Nakuleu elected Speaker unopposed after five candidates were disqualified from the race for failing to meet the requirements.

The High Court declared the decision by the Clerk to lock out the candidates from the race unconstitutional, setting room for a fresh election.

On January 4, the Clerk published a gazette notice for the assembly special sitting, to elect the Speaker and committal of the Turkana county supplementary Budget estimates FY 2022/2023.

"The main businesses to be undertaken will be election of the speaker and committal of the Turkana County supplementary budget," read the gazette notice.

Nakuleu who was sworn in by the Clerk said he was confident the election could have favoured him since he controls the majority United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MCAs.

"We respect the court decision, but the first High Court decision ordering fresh election was questionable owing to the fact that the cases challenging my election as a Speaker did not hold any water," the Speaker said.

He said those who contested his election decided to drop the case after notifying the Speaker of their withdrawal from the race.

The Speaker promised to steer the House Budget Committee to pass a supplementary budget in less than ten days, saying delays would affect the delivery of development projects.

Lokichoggio MCAs Vincent Ekipor lauded the House for unanimously re-electing the Speaker, saying the unity had demonstrated the ability of leaders to put the interests of the people first.

"It was good for leaders to put aside their political interests and forge for unity for the interests of the community by re-electing the Speaker. As leaders, our objective is to liberate the community from drought, hunger and abject poverty," Mr Ekipor said.