Samburu County Speaker Fred Lengees resigned on Tuesday, May 16, after an appointment by the United Nations for an international role.
The UN appointed Lengees as its representative in South Sudan, Africa's youngest nation.
Lengees announced the move at a press briefing clarifying that he was not leaving because of any trouble with his work or colleagues.
On the contrary, he stated that he had enjoyed his role in the county government adding that he received support from other officials including the governor, making his work easy.
“Making decisions at the county is not an easy task. I have worked with the governor and the assembly very well to deliver to the people.
“I enjoyed my work so it should not be said that I am leaving because I disagreed with anyone in the county,” he stated.
Before his position as speaker, Lengees had been worked at the UN for 15 years.
Samburu leaders including Governor Jonathan Lelelit congratulated Lengees for the new appointment. Leleit stated that it was a privilege to have worked with the speaker adding that the county benefited from his wise council.
"We couldn't afford to pass up this opportunity to have a presence in the international body. Lengees is the best candidate for the job,” he stated.
On the other hand, Senator Steve Lelegwe reiterated that the new role would also be beneficial to the county and it was therefore important for Lengees to take up the position.
"We believed it was best to support one of our own to take up the position because leaving would mean that no Samburu would get it,” Lelengwe noted.
He was elected as speaker of the County Assembly on September 28, 2023.
