City MCAs retreat to Mombasa after ‘a job well done’ on Speaker Elachi
Normalcy returned to City Hall on Tuesday following the chaos that preceded the ejection of Speaker Beatrice Elachi from office on Monday.
This came as the Labour Court extended conservatory orders it issued against Speaker Elachi’s impeachment until the petition she filed against her removal from office is heard on Friday.
But even as the embattled Speaker gets more days to stay in office, Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) have gone to Mombasa for a retreat, with rumours swirling around about its objective.
‘JOB WELL DONE’
There have been unsubstantiated reports that the county legislators will be meeting Governor Mike Sonko ‘after a job well done’.
But majority leader Abdi Guyo has laughed off the claims, saying all MCAs will be in the coastal city for a four-day retreat aimed at discussing business that will be transacted in the House when members return from the long recess.
“Are we supposed to stop operating because we have impeached the Speaker? The retreat was scheduled long before the latest happenings and the Speaker knew about it. The assembly will still operate regardless of what is happening,” said Mr Guyo yesterday.
He said Governor Sonko’s name should not be dragged into the impeachment saga.
“The retreat is being catered for by the assembly. If the governor had called us he would have sponsored it. So where does he come in?” Mr Guyo posed.
The governor’s director of communication Elkana Jacob said he was not aware of any meeting between the MCAs and the governor in Mombasa or anywhere else.
‘NO PLANNED MEETING’
“Is there a meeting with MCAs? I do not know anything about it. Maybe they have their own retreat but from our side, there is no planned meeting,” Mr Jacob said.
Mr Guyo said the House leadership is contemplating recalling members from the long recess a week earlier to discuss matters affecting Nairobi residents.
“We are contemplating recall ing members from recess because we have critical issues happening in Nairobi and so there is a possibility that we can resume duty in a week’s time. That is why members are going for a retreat to canvass,” he said.
Mr Guyo said Governor Sonko had nothing to do with Ms Elachi’s ouster.
He said on Thursday last week, the governor was a subject of discussion in the House, with members expressing their reservations about several issues about the running of the county.
‘NOT RIGHT’
“It is therefore not right for the Speaker to blame her woes on the governor. I do not see where he comes in. Members also have reservations about the governor, so how can it be possible that the same governor used members to oust the Speaker?” Mr Guyo posed.
On Monday, Mr Sonko distanced himself from the accusations that he might have a hand in the censure motion, saying he had a good working relationship with Ms Elachi, which goes back to the their time at the Senate.