Jubilee, NASA unite to hand victory to Elachi as County Speaker

Nairobi County Speaker Beatrice Elachi is escorted to the county assembly after taking oath of office.

Former nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi has vowed to serve both the majority and minority members and uphold the Constitution. Elachi said this yesterday after becoming the second speaker of the city county assembly.

Her first order of business, was to oversee the swearing-in of Ruai Member of County Assembly John Kamangu as deputy speaker. Kamangu was elected unopposed.

Elachi trounced four other candidates that had been shortlisted for the highly coveted position; former Karura Ward MCA Kamau Thuo, outgoing Kidero- chief of staff George Wainaina, former nominated MCA Karen Wanjiku and Parklands MCA candidate loser Abdi Ali.

First round win

Elachi clinched the seat after winning in the first round of voting where she raked in 90 votes out of a possible 122.

She was voted in by both Jubilee and National Super Alliance (NASA)  members.

Coming in second was Abdi Ali with 27 votes, Wainaina garnered four votes coming in third, Karen Wanjiku one vote and Kamau Thuo was last with no single vote.

The former Majority Whip at the Senate met the required two-thirds majority threshold in the first round claiming victory over her rivals.

She now becomes the second assembly speaker after her predecessor Alex Magelo. This follows a public endorsement of Elachi by President Uhuru Kenyatta two weeks ago at State House.

“Having met the two-thirds majority requirement, I declare Beatrice Elachi as the next County Assembly speaker,” announced Clerk Jacob Ngwele.

The clerk consequently ordered the Sergeant-at-arms to search for Elachi and present her to the assembly.

She took the oath of office, signed a certificate and assumed her role as the first woman speaker of county.

President’s call

“We vowed to vote for Elachi and we have done it, I am elated the members chose to heed the President’s directive,” said Abdi Guyo, Matopeni MCA.

Before the polls, there was intense lobbying with candidates trying to garner support from members affiliated to both parties. Members who had already taken oath were seen congregated in groups strategising how to go about the elections.

All this while, the five candidates were holed in the member’s resource centre following proceedings via TV screens.