Following the conclusion of the 2022 general election where winners and losers have been known – save for the presidency that has a pending court case – the focus has now shifted to the County Assemblies.
Members of the 47 county assemblies are earlier in September 2022 expected to be sworn in, and their first business thereafter will be to elect the speaker.
Just like at the National Assembly and the Senate, MCAs’ votes will decide who their speaker will be.
Here in Uasin Gishu, the swearing-in of the MCAs and election of the Speaker are expected to be held on September 6, 2022.
The county has 30 MCAs, 26 elected on a UDA ticket, two Jubilee and two independents together with the nominated MCAs that are yet to be gazetted.
And as it remains about two weeks to the assembly’s first session, we take a look at some of the individuals that are believed to be eyeing the county’s second powerful seat, after that of the governor;
Isaac Terer
He served as the pioneer Uasin Gishu County Assembly Speaker from 2013 to 2017.
In 2017, Terer expressed interest in the Kesses Member of Parliament seat but lost during the Jubilee party primaries to Dr Swarup Mishra.
He was also unsuccessful in the Speaker seat that was won by David Kiplagat who has since graduated to be the Soy Member of Parliament-elect.
Isaac Terer, a lawyer by profession, will be hoping to make a comeback.
Oliver Kichumba Karori
The youthful lawyer vied for the Uasin Gishu Senate seat but fell at the UDA nominations level to eventual winner Governor Jackson Mandago.
Initially, he had disputed Mandago’s win but later agreed to support him.
After a handshake with Mandago, it was rumoured that Karori was promised the Speaker’s seat – but there was no evidence to confirm the claims – which to date remains as such – a rumour.
He is also said to be in the race to lead the legislative arm of Uasin Gishu County.
Ruth Chelashaw
This is another youthful lawyer that has also been listed as among the candidates for the Uasin Gishu County Assembly Speaker.
Chelashaw, an advocate of the High Court, was among those that sought the seat in 2017 but lost to David Kiplagat.
She was later appointed Lands Chief Officer by Mandago and she is expected to try her luck yet again.
Christopher Mitei
He was the favourite to win the seat in 2017 before being upset by David Kiplagat.
Mitei who is a practising lawyer based in Eldoret town is expected to give the seat a second stab this year.
David Sing’oei
David Sing’oei served as the Ng’enyilel MCA for two terms from 2013 before expressing interest in the gubernatorial seat.
However, he lost during the UDA party primaries but played a key role in Governor-elect Jonathan Bii Chelilim alias Koti Moja’s campaigns.
Sing’oei is also said to be in the race to be a Speaker of the assembly where he served as MCA and majority chief whip for ten years.
Josephat Lowoi
Lowoi has been the assembly’s leader of the majority since 2013. He however lost during the UDA nominations in the Karuna/Meibeki ward and is said to be plotting a comeback to the bigger seat.
These are just some of the individuals whose names have popped up as potential candidates for the seat.
But it is until interested persons are asked to submit their papers is when the race will start shaping out.
For one to win the Assembly Speaker seat, he/she is required to get at least a third of all the MCAs. But in the event none of the candidates attains the threshold, the first two candidates face off in which the one that wins by a simple majority is declared the winner and subsequently sworn in to start the 5-year tenure
We want fresh faces. Karoti fits the bill