Fresh row as Nairobi MCAs attempt coup on House leadership

Nairobi County Assembly speaker Beatrice Elachi during a past session in October. [File, Standard]

The wrangles at the Nairobi County Assembly have escalated after a group of MCAs fronted names to replace embattled Majority Leader Abdi Guyo, his deputy James Kiriba and Majority Chief Whip Chege Mwaura.

The MCAs allied to Speaker Beatrice Elachi last week attempted a coup at the House leadership after they presented minutes of an alleged meeting at Sai Rock Hotel in Mombasa on November 3 where Jubilee MCAs are said to have sat and decided to overhaul the party’s leadership at the Nairobi County Assembly.

Nominated MCA June Ndegwa last Thursday tabled the names of Dandora Area III MCA Charles Thuo as the newly proposed majority leader, Ziwani MCA Millicent Mugadi as the deputy majority leader, herself as the chief whip and California MCA Hassan Abdikadir as the deputy chief whip.

Elachi wrote to Jubilee Party’s Secretary General Raphael Tuju informing him of the proposed changes at the Assembly.

In her ruling on the floor of the House, Elachi said the changes were effected in line with standing orders of the County Assembly and Article 19 of the Jubilee constitution.

Mr Guyo, however, poked holes on his removal process and faulted the MCAs, saying they did not follow the right procedure.

South B MCA Waithera Chege accused ward representatives allied to Elachi of forging members’ signatures in order to advance their selfish agenda.