Confusion greets ouster motion against Nairobi Speaker Elachi

The campaign to impeach Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi hangs in the balance, even as proponents of the censure motion insist it will be tabled this week.

Assembly deputy clerk in charge of administrative affairs Pauline Akuku dismissed the talk, saying, neither her nor new clerk Edward Gichana has been served with the motion.

Ms Akuku, an ally of the Speaker, also questioned the authenticity of a notice of impeachment by Assembly clerk Jacob Ngwele, saying, it is on a letterhead that has long been discarded.

With the assembly still embroiled in a court case over who the bona fide clerk between Mr Gichana and Mr Ngwele is and the deputy clerk in charge of legislative affairs suspended, the motion faces a new hurdle.

Akuku in charge

This leaves Ms Akuku, a recent appointee of the Speaker, in charge.

In order for the motion to proceed, the clerk must first verify signatures collected in its support.

“Please ignore media reports suggesting that a notice of motion for your removal...was issued and that you are curtailed from performing the functions of your office.

“You should treat such information as rumours, gossip and media hype,” the letter by Ms Akuku to Ms Elachi written yesterday reads.

Suspended plenary sittings

Last week, the Speaker suspended plenary sittings to September, a day after her office was notified of the impeachment motion.

The motion can only be tabled with the assembly is in session.

Contacted, Waithaka Ward Representative Anthony Kiragu said the assembly has not gone on recess.

He added that the calendar indicates that the House will break on August 13.

“The House can only be adjourned by members and not the Speaker. More so, the assembly has a calendar that has to be followed,” Mr Kiragu said yesterday.

Deputy Majority Whip Waithera Chege said Ms Elachi stands suspended after being served with the notice of the censure motion last week.

Appoint temporary speaker

Mr Kiragu added that ward representatives would appoint a temporary Speaker to preside over the motion.

“She has no role in deciding what does and does not go to the floor of the House,” the Waithaka ward representative said. 

Ms Elachi disbanded the Speaker’s panel and is yet to reconstitute it.

According to Ms Elachi, a temporary Speaker cannot be appointed when the speaker and the deputy are in office.

“If the speaker is on suspension, the deputy speaker should chair the proceedings. The deputy speaker’s position has been strengthened. He or she can only be removed on the same grounds as the speaker,” she said.