Elachi calls for special sitting to address Nairobi woes
Eric Wainaina and David Ndolo
Nairobi Speaker Beatrice Elachi has called for a special sitting tomorrow where Ward Representatives are expected to discuss the fate of the county whose Governor Mike Sonko was asked to keep off office over corruption-related charges.
Elachi in a memo dated January 3, 2020, addressed to the Majority Leader Charles Thuo and Minority Leader David Mberia, said the agenda of the ‘kamukunji’ would be shared at the meeting.
“The Speaker to City County Assembly wishes to notify you that there will be a kamukunji of all Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 10 am in the Assembly Chambers.
This is, therefore, is to notify you on the same and ask you to notify Honourable members from your respective parties to attend this important meeting,” reads the memo.
However, sources indicated that filling some County Executive Committee Members (CECM), who were suspended and some MCAs who have been unhappy with the county chief also intend to use it to introduce a possible impeachment.
The prosecution of Governor Sonko over alleged theft of Sh357 million at City Hall and his potential impeachment to save the county from a constitutional crisis has divided Ward Representatives who have fighting over the devolved unit’s fate.
Elachi has been on the spot from some of MCAs who had accused her of refusing to call a special sitting to discuss City Hall’s fate and a simmering impeachment against Sonko.
The Assembly leadership is also reported to have approved trips for Ward Reps out of the city in December as part of a plot by Governor Sonko’s allies to scuttle the impeachment plot against the county chief, who was charged with theft of Sh357 million.
But the Speaker, who returned to City Hall recently after a protracted legal battle denied that MCAs were being allowed to travel to kill the planned ouster motion, saying they are part of the House’s official programmes “which has been continuing.”
At the same time, acting County Secretary Leboo ole Morintat has convened a meeting of all CECMs, Chief Officers and heads of directorates to county issues.
