Speaker Moses Wetangula declares Kandara, Garissa Township MP seats vacant

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula. [File, Standard]

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula has declared Kandara and Garissa Township MP seats vacant.

This follows the resignation of holders Alice Wahome (Kandara) and Aden Duale (Garisha Township), who have taken up Cabinet Secretary duties in President William Ruto's administration.

Wahome, a three-term MP, is the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation.

Duale, a four-term MP, is the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Defence.

The two, who are members of the United Democratic Alliance Party (UDA), were sworn into office on Thursday, October 27 after successful vetting by the National Assembly.

Following their resignation from Parliament, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula has written to the IEBC, declaring the seats vacant so that the electoral agency can organise by-elections.

"The speaker submitted to the Government Printer for gazettement, a notice to the general public and for information indicating that the two vacancies have arisen with effect from October 26, 2022. This is the day the Cabinet, including the two former Members of National Assembly were gazetted by the President after being approved by the House," said Wetangula in a press statement dated October 27, 2022.

"The Constitution mandates the speaker to issue writs declaring a vacancy in the constituency within 21 days of occurrence by giving a notice in writing to IEBC with the by-elections to be held within 90 days of the occurrence of vacancy," said Wetangula.

Following the notice by the speaker, the IEBC has until January 26, 2023 to hold by-elections in both constituencies.