The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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On Wednesday, the Lamu County Assembly turned down James Gichu’s nomination for Deputy Governor.
Currently serving as the County Executive Committee member for Agriculture, Gichu was nominated by Governor Issa Timamy to fill the vacancy left by Deputy Governor Raphael Munyua, who passed away last month due to health issues.
The voting resulted in a tie, with 9 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) in favor and 9 against Gichu’s nomination.
Assembly rules require a majority for confirmation, so the Speaker had no option but to reject the nomination.
The session was brief, lacking any debate or explanations from the MCAs regarding their votes. Majority Leader Bwana Bunu explained that the tie necessitated the Speaker’s decision to reject Gichu’s appointment.
Nominated MCA Ahmed Medo emphasized that the Speaker’s ruling was essential due to the deadlock, stating that protocol dictates a nomination cannot move forward in the event of a tie.
Governor Timamy now has 14 days to either nominate someone new or convince the Assembly to reconsider Gichu’s nomination. This situation is likely to spark increased political lobbying, particularly from Mpeketoni, the late Deputy Governor Munyua’s hometown, where residents may advocate for a successor from their area.
