Kenneth Kedi
Speaker of the Legislature of the Marshall Islands
In office
4 January 2016 – 3 January 2024
Preceded byDonald Capelle
Succeeded byBrenson Wase
Personal details
Born1971 (age 52–53)
Political partyKien Eo Ad (KEA)

Kenneth Kedi (born 1971) is a Marshallese politician. He was Speaker of the Legislature of the Marshall Islands between 2016 and 2024, having been re-elected in 2020. Kedi is a member of the Kien Eo Ad (KEA) party.

Life

Kedi was born in 1971.[1] Kedi is a member of the Kien Eo Ad (KEA) party.[2] He represents the Rongelap Atoll in the Legislature. He has stated that people from the atoll are hesitant to return after nuclear testing on the island by the United States during the 20th-century.[3]

In June 2011 when Kedi was Minister of Transport and Communications, he was charged with ten counts of criminal acts relating to misappropriation of funds, making it the first time a Marshall Islands minister was charged with criminal acts.[4][5] When the case went to court the next month seven of the charges were dropped, and Kedi pleaded no contest to the remaining three. The amount of money involved in the case was around US$2000. Kedi received a suspended prison sentence of 30 days, and a $1000 fine. He continued to serve as Minister.[6]

On 4 January 2016 Kedi was elected Speaker of the Legislature of the Marshall Islands. He won the election with 19 to 14 votes of former Marshall Islands President Christopher Loeak.[1] He succeeded Donald Capelle.[2] In November 2018 he supported an ultimately unsuccessful vote of no-confidence in President Hilda Heine.[7] In October 2019 the Supreme Court of the Marshall Islands struck down the country's voting law as unconstitutional relating to an issue for offshore postal ballots. Kedi subsequently argued that previous election law which did allow for offshore postal ballots to take effect again.[8]

On 6 January 2020 Kedi was re-elected as Speaker, defeating Brenson Wase with 19 against 14 votes.[9][10]

In February 2023, The Washington Post reported that Kedi is under investigation by the Marshall Islands' attorney general.[11]

Kedi lost his seat during the 2023 Marshallese general election.[12] He was succeeded as Speaker by Wase on 3 January 2024.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 "Carsten Nemra new RMI President". The Marshall Islands Journal. 4 January 2016. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Senator Kenneth Kedi, the Seventh Speaker of the Nitijela". Legislature of the Marshall Islands. Archived from the original on 23 January 2020.
  3. ↑ Dan Zak (27 November 2015). "A ground zero forgotten The Marshall Islands, once a U.S. nuclear test site, face oblivion again". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Marshall Islands cabinet minister makes history with criminal charges". Radio New Zealand. 3 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Giff Johnson (20 June 2011). "Marshalls minister's case faces hurdles to trial". Marianas Variety. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017.
  6. ↑ "Marshalls minister Kedi pleads no contest". Radio New Zealand. 14 July 2011. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "Marshall Islands leader survives no-confidence motion". Outlook. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Giff Johnson (14 October 2019). "RMI Supreme Court rules voting law unconstitutional". Pacific Island Times. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "David Kabua elected Marshall Islands President, unseating Dr Hilda Heine". NE PNG. 7 January 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "New president for Marshall Islands". Radio New Zealand. 6 January 2020. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020.
  11. ↑ McKenzie, Pete (February 15, 2023). "Bribes, booze and bombs: The brazen plan to create a Pacific tax haven". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  12. ↑ Johnson, Giff (30 December 2023). "Marshall Islands election results declared as high-profile incumbents lose re-election". RNZ. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023.
  13. ↑ Joel, Wilmer (4 January 2024). "Hilda wins election". The Marshall Islands Journal. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024.
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