Parliament picks new Eala members

Parliament on Thursday elected nine nominees to the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) during a special session in a largely peaceful vote.

Speaker Kenneth Marende said the elections were free and fair and complied with the Constitution and the treaty governing the bloc.

Sarah Bonaya was re-elected to the Assembly through Kanu as was Saoli ole Nkanai (PNU) and Mathuki Peter Mutuku (Wiper Democratic Movement).

Others were Joseph Kiangoi Ombasa, Abisai Nancy Lung’ahi Abisa, Mumbi Ng’aru, Judith Nayai Pareno and Abubakar Zein Abubakar.

A run-off was called for late evening to decide the fate of Narc-Kenya candidates Catherine Kimura and Abdi Ogle.

ODM rebels William Ruto and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi met to decide on five out of nine nominees earlier cleared to contest the elections.

Mr Mudavadi and Mr Ruto had threatened to shoot down the list of ODM nominees if they failed to get slots in the party during a meeting at the International Bible School.

However, they only managed to block two names: PM Raila Odinga’s ally and former Nyakach MP Peter Odoyo and former Nominated ODM councillor Ronald Ng’eny.

Allies of Mr Ruto and Mr Mudavadi plotted to support Wiper Democratic Movement nominee Jenifer Masis but failed after she garnered only 52 votes.

The meeting reduced chances of a contest that Mr Ruto’s group had threatened to spark leading to a peaceful election of the nine nominees.

READ: Ruto set for scheme luncheon ahead of EALA nominations

The voting kicked off at 10am and ended at 2.30pm.

On Wednesday, Mr Marende overruled attempts by Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale to throw a spanner in the works, citing technicalities on nominations by ODM.

Dr Khalwale had demanded that ODM table all records of proceedings used to nominate nine, instead of 15 nominees in contravention of Rule 5 and 6 of the Eala elections.

Clerk of the National Assembly Patrick Gichohi will gazette the names and submit them same to the EAC secretary general next Monday.