Chaos, tear gas at City Hall after MCAs clash over Elachi’s comeback

Nairobi ward representatives clashed on Wednesday morning, hours after embattled County Assembly Speaker, Beatrice Elachi, made a dramatic return to office.

Elachi had been out of office for 13 months following her controversial ouster by the city MCAs.

A section of the MCAs, affiliated to Jubilee Party, on Wednesday protested against her come-back, claiming she is a “biased” Speaker, who is currently inclined towards the ODM wing in the post-handshake deal.

Police were forced to hurl teargas at the MCAs as they clashed bitterly at City Hall over Elachi.

Videos circulating on social media show window panes at Elachi’s office broken and the room evidently in a messy state.

In one of the short video clips, a shirtless male MCA seats on the floor as Elachi tries to calm him down.

In another video clip, Elachi is seen rinsing her eyes with water to relieve the teargas effect.

On Wednesday, Elachi made the comeback in a manner eerily similar to the way she was ejected from the office when drama erupted inside City Hall on the afternoon of September 10.

Vowing to play rough, Elachi held a press conference inside her office where she proceeded to demand respect from the Jubilee Party.

For her protection, the Speaker brought an entourage of eight people who cheered her on shouting “Ingwe”.

“In Nairobi County, we have a good relationship with member but the leadership intimidates and manipulates members and the governor. This manipulation, they did it to Kidero…the cartels are all over. I want to thank the members for yesterday. You can’t use the floor of the House to insult women. When you abuse the prime minister, you are abusing Mama Ida,” said Elachi.

The Speaker said that she will crackdown on illegal foreign travel by ward representatives, and urged embassies not to allow MCAs to travel outside the country if their documents don’t have her signature.

“Do not allow any member of the Nairobi County Assembly to travel outside the country without the signature of the Speaker, because that is what they are using to intimidate the members,” said Elachi.

The Speaker accused the Nairobi County Assembly leadership of intimidation, manipulation and lack of respect for her office.