By JOSEPH WANGUIMore by this AuthorA High Court judge in Nyeri has declared the position of deputy speaker in county assemblies legal and constitutional, contrary to rulings by his two colleagues in Meru and Machakos. Related Content Judge declares all county deputy speakers joblessHe also noted that Article 178 of the Constitution does not compel counties to describe the person representing the substantive Speaker as a ‘deputy speaker’, so county assemblies are free to use any other term. The judge further held that it cannot have been intended in the Constitution for the Speaker not to have a substantive deputy. PREVIOUS RULINGSMr Ngaah disagreed with justices Pauline Nyamweya of Machakos and Francis Gikonyo of Meru, who in 2016 and 2017 respectively, declared the office of deputy speaker in counties invalid. Justice Gikonyo ruled that the office of the deputy speaker is only constitutional recognised in Senate and National Assembly, but not in counties.

Source: Daily Nation February 25, 2019 11:18 UTC