The race for West Pokot County Assembly speaker has attracted a number of candidates as interested parties are lobbing to secure the County top seat.
Among them is Fredrick Kaptui Plimo from Chepareria currently serving at Eco pillar Teachers Sacco, Kapenguria as the Chief Executive office.
Johnson Losilian Kalo from Chepareria, former MCA for Chepareria Ward and served as Deputy Speaker in the 1st Assembly, Ambole Philip Magal, an advocate practicing in Kapenguria, Catherine Mukenyang- Former Speaker of the 2nd Assembly, Julius Kamtoi Ariwomoi, former clerk who served in the 1st Assembly and former parliamentary staff among others.
A total of eight candidates are contesting for the top seat.
Fredrick Kaptui Plimo among the top preferred candidates by most of the residents said he has all the basic requirements as the next speaker.
Having experience of 10 years working in the Sacco, Mr. Kaptui is optimistic he will surpass the rest.
He added that he will focus on representation without being compromised.
He holds a degree in Accounting and Commerce from Kenyatta university.
Julius Ariwomoi is among the candidates seeking to secure the seat.
Ariwomoi contested for Sigor constituency Member of Parliament elections in the August elections on the KANU ticket but came second.
Ariwomoi holds MBA from University of Nairobi 2013 and Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics Economics- Statistics from Egerton University 1999.
Ariwomoi was working in Parliamentary Service Commission as legislative clerk from 2003- 2022 before joining politics.
Between 2013_2017 Ariwomoi served as West Pokot County Assembly clerk.
Philip Magal an advocate of the High Court of Kenya who has come out openly seeking for the position.
Magal holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Moi University and a Master of Law from London South Bank University.
Philip Magal said he is so much interested in the speaker position and wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to serve his people.
He added that he believes he holds the requisite qualifications for the position.
Magal promised to enable the Assembly to effectively discharge its oversight role over the County executive.
The incumbent Speaker Catherine Mukenyang said she is waiting for the position to be advertised then she will apply to defend it.
She noted that she is still thinking on the position citing that the process is ongoing.
“Am waiting for the full house membership of Members of County Assembly. We don’t know the number of nominated MCAs.” She said.