NAIROBI SPEAKER BEATRICE ELACHI DEFENDED OVER “CRONIC ABSENTEE SONKO MCA” SACKING By Jethro Makau

Tuesday’s summary dismissal of Jubilee nominated MCA Habiba Hussein Ibrahim has been hailed as bold and long over – due by a cross section of Nairobi residents and opinion leaders.

Those quoted by the media but sought anonymity for fear of victimization and thuggery by the fired MCA’s well known godfathers also rushed to the defense of County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi who announced the dismissal following an elaborate process as provided for in the Assembly rules and standing orders.

“It is the height of impunity and criminal blackmail for those affected by her dismissal to personalize it and attempt to intimidate Speaker Beatrice Elachi. She acted on a credible, unanimous recommendation of the Assembly’s “Powers and Privileges Committee” which investigates absenteeism by members” said a veteran politician yesterday.

Many concur that the act of a nominated MCA accepting nomination then without explanation or valid reasons skipping virtually all sittings for almost two years while promptly drawing salaries and allowances is not only a disciplinary matter but plain corruption and abuse of public office and that the matter should even be referred to EACC and the anti-corruption court to try and force her to refund the money.

It is a crime to earn for no work done nor services rendered, they lamented.
County Assembly Standing order 242 which informed the MCA’s dismissal states:- (1) If during any session, a member is absent from eight sittings of the County Assembly without permission, in writing from the Speaker, the speaker shall report the matter to the County Assembly and the matter shall stand referred to the Committee of Privileges for hearing and determination; (4) If the report of the Committee finds that the Member has not offered a satisfactory explanation for the Member’s absence for eight sittings of the County Assembly under paragraph (1), the Chairperson of the Committee or a Member of the Committee designated by the Committee for that purpose shall, upon submitting the report, give a three days’ notice of a Motion that, “This County Assembly notes the Report of the Committee of Privileges laid on the Table of the County Assembly on …. Regarding…” with other necessary modifications.;(6) At the conclusion of the debate on a Motion under paragraph (4), the Speaker shall not put a question but shall declare that, pursuant to Article 103(1)(b) of the Constitution, the office of the Member concerned has become vacant.
By reason of merely effecting the provisions of the law (standing orders of the County assembly)

Speaker Elachi proved to be a defender of the Constitution and exemplified her loyalty to her oath of office which bound her to protect the resources of the County from plunder and misuse.

A leading Nairobi politician who happens to be a neighbor to the fired MCA (Habiba Hussein Ibrahim in Nyayo Embakasi hailed the Speaker and the leadership of the County Assembly for at long last taking firm
action against her noting that she always bragged of having the protection of besieged Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and that she was untouchable.

“The City County Assembly is not supposed to be money dispenser for people’s girlfriends, mipango ya Kando’s or boyfriends to pick free money for no work. In fact this matter should be subjected to a Commission of inquiry to punish those who nominated her and such other crooked arrangements. MCAs must deserve their positions and must work for the people and their political parties 24/7”

Others have extended blame for the fraud to Governor Sonko since the first responsibility to fight misuse of public resources in the County government rests with the Governor’s office.

They said the matter is made worse by leaks that the sacked MCA is known to be extremely close to him.

Angry residents out to defend the sacking have asked those aggrieved to stop targeting the Speaker but go for the entire membership of the Powers and Privileges Committee and by extension the full assembly. Because, they say, such a decision is deemed to have been made by or on behalf of the full assembly that is why it is announced in the plenary when the Assembly is in session for concurrence.

They also challenged a section of politicians attacking the Speaker and rushing to the defense of the sacked MCA to declare their interest instead of empty rhetoric and abuses.

They singled out nominated Senator Millicent Omanga as a free-loader who is only known for hoping from one Tanga-Tanga rally to another and has done nothing for Nairobi residents since being nominated to the Senate. They castigated her for being conspicuously quiet in the senate instead of being an energetic legislator to add value to the laws meant to strengthen the work of County government.

They wondered how a Senator can openly defend fraud and abuse of office instead of supporting strict application of laws that promote accountability in leadership. For her open defense of fraud, some are calling for her resignation in public interest.

A section of youths also challenged Jubilee party that nominated Ms Habiba to be careful when refilling her position by ensuring that all those who pushed for her nomination do not have any role in picking her replacement, lest they saddle Nairobi with another dead wood.

They asked those trying to fight Speaker Elachi over the saga to table any official communication by Miss Habiba to the Speaker showing that she got permission to be away for the long period. That if they have such communication and believe it was wrongly overlooked; they can use it to appeal in the constitutional court instead of poisoning Nairobi politics with vendetta, threats and dirty propaganda.

Many have hailed Mrs Elachi as a strong leader who can be relied upon to restore order in the management of both the City County Assembly and the Capital City at Large. They said she is showcasing the capacity of Kenyan Women leaders which will inspire girls to grow up and take up leadership positions for the good of society.