A lady has made history in West Pokot County after being elected the first woman speaker in the County, breaking the norms and traditions of the Pokot community that a woman cannot lead.
Catherine Chepkemoi Mukenyang lost the woman representative seat on the KANU ticket after she came second in the August polls.
She has, however, been elected the Speaker after getting 29 votes and trouncing her closest competitor, former speaker Mr. Robert Katina, who got 4 votes.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Mukenyang cited that being elected has created history in the County, “This shows that the girl child is now being appreciated in Pokot,” she said.
Mukenyang, who was a former health and sanitation County executive officer before she was sacked by former Governor Simon Kachapin, said that she is ready to offer transformative, equal leadership in the County. “I will work without favoritism to deliver for West Pokot residents,” she quipped.Kasei ward representative Mr. Francis Losia was elected the committee chairman/Deputy speaker after garnering 21 votes, beating his closest rival Solomon
Kasei ward representative Mr. Francis Losia was elected the committee chairman/Deputy speaker after garnering 21 votes, beating his closest rival Solomon Angelei who got 12.
All the 20 elected and thirty members of the County Assembly were sworn in by the County Assembly clerk Mr. Julius Ariwomoi. Ariwomoi observed that only two candidates had applied for the speaker’s job. “Some other two brought their applications late,” he said. He said that he received a petition seeking to bar the swearing in process, but he had to follow the rules set by the Constitution, “The petition didn’t follow the right procedure and it came late,” he said.
Several leaders attended the swearing in ceremony, including Governor John Lonyangapuo, Senator Samuel Poghisio, Woman representative Lilian Tomitom and MPs David Pkossing (Pokot South) and Peter Lochakapong (Sigor).
