Kenya: Uchaguzi wa Spika

Speaker election: Round one counting on
By NATION ReporterLast updated: 25 minutes ago
Kenya’s new MPs are at Parliament Buildings all set to elect of new Speaker in the first major test of strength between the Government and the Opposition since the elections two weeks ago.
A total of 207 MPs-elect are in Parliament ready to elect the speaker of the National Assembly.
- Soon after the MPs-elect are called to order and prayers are said, Ugenya MP-elect James Orengo seeks clarification from the Clerk Samuel Ndindiri on the basis of voting through secret ballot as that was not provided for in the standing orders. Mr Ndindiri answers that the orders talk of ‘a ballot’.
- Voting begins and ODM MPs-elect mark their ballots and show them to their colleagues. This draws several interventions from the Government side who argue that it is against the procedures. The opposition side answers that it is their choice and that there is no provision in law against them showing each other marked ballots.
- Attorney General Amos Wako says that while it may not be explicit in the rules that voting be by secret ballot, they can borrow from the House of Commons where the practice is on.
- The Clerk asks that the ballots already in the box be removed and the voting to start all over again. The ballot box is moved to the dispatch area.