Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has welcomed the resignation of Nairobi County Assembly speaker Beatrice Elachi. According to Sonko, Elachi’s resignation is good riddance and paves way for sanity to prevail in the assembly.
“Hakuna shida na MCA’s, shida zilikua zinakau created na watu kwa ofisi ya Rais, na Elachi alikuwa anatumiwa. Huyu mama was the main insighter kwa smear campaign”
“There is no problem between MCAs, all these problems were being created by some people in the office of the president and they were using Elachi. She has been the key insighter in this smear campaign against me” he said. .
It is a view shared by Kariobangi North MCA Julius Maina. He says Elachi had sensed defeat and resorted to early surrender. “We were going to impeach her anyway because of her incompetence and corruption. Since she has opted to leave, we wish her well”
Imara Daima MCA Kennedy Obuya adds that Elachi demonstrated poor understanding of the assembly standing orders “Even in her resignation, she should have known that it ought to be communicated to the clerk of the assembly, not the President.” he says. ” Speaker has no power to appoint an acting speaker, once she leaves office, the deputy speaker takes over automatically’ He added
While announcing her resignation on Tuesday morning, Elachi cited frustrations and threats to her life and that of her family among the reasons for stepping down. “ It has been tough and I can’t hold any longer,” She said. “I, therefore, tender my resignation and thank President Uhuru Kenyatta for giving me this opportunity to serve under his Jubilee administration.”
Ruai Ward MCA John Kamangu, who is also the deputy speaker now takes over as Acting Speaker until a new substantive speaker is elected.
In May the governor sonko demanded that Elachi resigns for mishandling the revoked Supplementary Bill that allocated Sh15 billion to Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS). Sonko accused Elachi of ignoring the law in the drafting and passage of the Nairobi County Supplementary Appropriations Bill, 2020 that was eventually de-gazetted by the government printer after an order from Solicitor General Ken Ogeto.
Governor Sonko who is embroiled in power tussle with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director Mohamed Badi, insists that he supports the body, and only wants Badi to follow the law while discharging his mandate.”Naambia Generali Tuheshimiane, sisi tunaheshimu rais na wewe pia tuheshimiane.”
Sonko has faulted General Badi for using the military to bar him from accessing the governors official residence.
