Nairobi Speaker Elachi urges Western Kenya leaders to unite behind Mudavadi

Leader of Majority National Assembly Adan Duale (left) with Nairobi County Speaker Beatrice Elachi during a past press conference at Parliament buildings on 11/9/2015.They were calling on ICC to withdraw the cases of Deputy President William Ruto and Journalist Sang.[File, Standard]

Nairobi Speaker Beatrice Elachi has severed links with Deputy President William Ruto.

Embattled Elachi, one of the DPs close allies surprised many by rallying leaders from Western to back one of their own instead of trouping to Sugoi.

Speaking during the burial of Lugari MP Ayub Savula daughter, Joanne Chepchirchir at Manyonyi village, Elachi said the region must support Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi.

“As a community, 2019 is a year of reflection and focus, we must start planning strategically so that our people benefits from the resources sharing formula,” said Ms Elachi.

 The former nominated senator has kept a low profile since she her ouster as Nairobi County Assembly speaker last year.

Elachi has since indicated that she was not keen on pushing to reclaim her seat despite ongoing court case over her illegal removal from office.

Her denouncement of Ruto is a major political setback to the Deputy President especially after Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa also abandoned Ruto.

“Our leaders trouping to Sugoi should stop forthwith and focus on working with Mudavadi to enhance the region’s chances of producing a president,” said Elachi.

According to her, the leaders should be concerned about the Luhya community’s frantic efforts to clinch power.

“We must start working with President Uhuru Kenyatta to ensure our people are in government and better our chances of getting power,” he said.

Elachi regretted that Western has supported Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s presidential quest for many years but time has come for the locals to rally behind one of their own.

She was among Ruto’s foot soldiers who would crisscross the region popularizing the DP and urging locals to stand with the latter.

Political pundits opined that Elachi’s decision could have been informed by the fact that Ruto’s friends could have contributed to her ouster as speaker.

Mudavadi and Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who were in attendance challenged Luhya legislators allied to reduce visits to Sugoi and focus on serving the electorate.

“Spare time to work for the people who elected you instead of frequenting Sugoi at the expense of the mandate you are entrusted with by the electorate,” said Mudavadi.

Oparanya said the absentee MPs had contributed immensely to poor showing of the county in national examinatons.

“In last year’s KCSE examinations, Kakamega managed just a single grade A (plain) posted by a candidate from Booker Academy yet our leaders are busy rushing to Sugoi instead of addressing the plight of the people they represent,” said the governor.

According to him, the leaders must come back home to start addressing the challenges facing education sector in the area.