Uhuru man succeeds Elachi as city Speaker
Former Makadara MP Benson Mutura is the new Nairobi County Assembly Speaker replacing Beatrice Elachi who resigned on Tuesday.
Mr Mutura garnered 99 votes out of the 122 available, flooring five other candidates who received zero votes.
The election was a first-of-a-kind to be conducted virtually where members of the county assembly were required to log into Zoom and vote in their preferred candidate.
Mr Mutura received all the votes cast and in the process was declared the new Speaker in the first round after surpassing the 81 votes threshold.
“Having garnered more than the required two-thirds majority votes, I hereby declare Mr Benson Mutura the new Nairobi County Assembly Speaker,” declared acting speaker of the day John Kamangu.
Mr Mutura promised to be a Speaker for all and embrace even divergent views pledging to put party affiliations aside and herald a new Assembly where all MCAs are treated equally.
The former Makadara MP said he was ready to work with all the ward representatives to ensure that Nairobi residents get much-needed services.
The father of three described himself as a non-partisan Speaker who will maintain fidelity to the rule of law calling on the MCAs to walk together with him in the journey of reclaiming the tainted image of the Assembly, which has been embroiled in incessant chaos.
He thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Jubilee Party as well as the opposition for having faith in him manifested by their overwhelming support during the elections.
“I cannot say that I was the best but it is you who saw it fit to elect me. We will work together regardless of party affiliations,” he said.
He called on the Assembly to work together with the county Executive as well as the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) to ensure Nairobi residents get services they expect from the county government.
“It is time we now work together with the County Executive to ensure services get to the people. NMS is like a new born baby and we must take care of the office as instructed by the President,” said the new Speaker.