By MN Reporter
Embattled Migori speaker Owino Likowa has gone on political overdrive to secure his seat after a court order which nullified his election.
The former Migori legislator has been banking on his good rapport with governor Ochillo Ayacko, help from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and personal charm offensive on MCAs.
First Likowa rushed to court and obtained stay orders against the court judgment after Isaac Aluochier who vied for the same seat moved to Migori High Court as a petitioner and sued the Migori assembly, clerk of the assembly Vincensia Kioge and Likowa as first, second and third respondents respectively.
In the constitutional petition number E006 of 2022, the court quashed “the election of the third respondent Charles Owino Likowa as the speaker of the county assembly of Migori.”
From February 21 when the decision was reached, the court gave 21 days for “fresh elections for the speaker of Migori county to be conducted starting from the submitting of nomination papers of interested persons.”
The court said the second respondent failed to comply with standing orders number five subsection two, four and five of the Migori assembly standing orders and article of 196 of the constitution in the election.
During the court proceedings, Aluochier claimed he submitted his interest for the speaker sear after he was supported by East Kamagambo MCA Simon Nyaoke and North Kamagambo MCA Collins Osewe on September 17 and 18 last year respectively.
Likowa first charm offensive came when the two MCAs accompanied by Majority Leader Edward Ouma, who is the South Sakwa and governor Ayacko’s MCA, called a press briefing to distance themselves from the judgment.
“Aluochier did not qualify for the speaker race as nobody proposed and seconded him, we are aware of the court decision and we are not bothered since even if there is another voting nothing will change,” Ouma said.
Osewe and Nyaoke claimed they were shocked by their names being taken to the court and said they had withdrawn the support in the house.
The choice of the venue for the presser, Ayacko’s official residence called State House spoke volumes from where the power resides.
On February 21 Likowa through, Migori High Court judge Roseline Wendo got a stay order and thirty days to allow him appeal.
“That stay is granted for thirty days to allow the respondents to file appeal,” the order dated February 21.
Days ago, Likowa held a meeting with all Azimio MCAs, numbering 42 out of 52 to stamp his authority in case of a fresh vote.
On September 21, Likowa was elected as the new speaker by 51 out of 59 MCAs in the house, seven members voted for Uriri businessman Martin Owiny who had 7 votes while only one vote was spoilt.
