Kilifi County has made a historic shift in its political leadership, electing Catherine Kenga as the new Speaker of the County Assembly just weeks after the dramatic impeachment of former Speaker Teddy Mwambire.

In a decisive vote held on Monday, July 21, 2025, Kenga garnered overwhelming support from Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), receiving 41 out of 47 votes cast on the assembly floor.

With her victory, Kenga becomes the first woman to hold the powerful speaker’s position not only in Kilifi, but across all six coastal counties since the advent of devolution in 2013.

Governor Gideon Mung’aro, who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony, hailed the election as a milestone in the county’s political progress and a significant step forward for women's leadership.

“Congratulations to Hon. Catherine Kenga on your election as Speaker of the Kilifi County Assembly. As the first woman elected to this position, she sets a powerful example and opens the door for more women to lead,” Governor Mung’aro said in a statement.

He also commended the other candidates for their participation and commitment to public service.

Kenga’s ascent follows the ouster of Teddy Mwambire, a close ally of ODM Party leader Raila Odinga, who was impeached on July 1 after 40 out of 50 MCAs supported a motion to remove him from office.

The charges leveled against Mwambire included gross misconduct, abuse of office, incompetence, and undermining assembly committees.

The motion, tabled by Tezo Ward MCA Thomas Chengo, accused Mwambire of interfering with the budget process and breaching procedural fairness.

It further cited his active involvement in partisan politics, especially his participation in the ODM grassroots elections in Ganze sub-County, where he vied for the branch chairmanship and later contested the outcome actions deemed inconsistent with the neutrality required of his office.

A five-member ad hoc committee was formed to investigate the allegations, but Mwambire failed to appear before the panel to defend himself.

Kenga now steps into a politically charged role, with the task of stabilizing the assembly and rebuilding trust among members.

Her election is being seen as both a political reset and a progressive stride toward gender inclusivity in leadership at the county level.