Murang’a County Assembly scraps Deputy Speaker position

Murang’a County Assembly on Thursday passed a motion scraping the post of Deputy Speaker following a High Court ruling that declared the position null and void.

The motion tabled by Leader of Majority Erick Kamande argues that the position should be done away with on grounds that it is not recognised in the constitution nor the County Act.

This means Murang’a County Deputy Speaker Samuel Kihurunjo Mwangi is out of a job.

Last month, High Court Judge Kanyi Kimondo ruled that the creation, establishment and maintenance of the office in Murang’a was not based on any law.

In his ruling, Justice Kimondo said that the office of the Deputy Speaker is unconstitutional and that all laws and resolutions passed under the deputy speakers are illegal and should not apply as the office did not exist in the first place.

At the County Assembly, Kamande said by adopting the court ruling, there won’t be any vacuum since those who chair House committees are allowed to fill in the position in the Speaker’s absence.

Justice Kimondo was the second judge to rule that the post is unconstitutional after Justice Francis Gikonyo had earlier declared the position null and void in Meru.

Other county assemblies across the country are expected to effect the High Court ruling.