This archive report was first published on 5 August 2020.
Meet Mary Njambi, Nairobi's Unconventional MCA ¶
Since joining the Nairobi County Assembly in 2017, Mary Njambi has become a household name, not for her policy-making skills, but for her unorthodox approach to politics.
Known as 'Krimino' or 'Mafirifir' by her colleagues and the public, Njambi has commanded attention countywide with her antics, whether it's during press conferences or while appearing before Parliamentary committees.
Here are five instances that made Njambi's name a trending topic in the country:
- October 2018: Mafirifiri kwa macho clip
On October 2018, Njambi made headlines after a botched attempt to eject Nairobi County Assembly Speaker, Beatrice Elachi. In an address to journalists, Njambi protested that Elachi had sprayed pepper in her eyes, an act she termed as “Kirimino” (Criminal).
- November 2019: Gunshots during a protest at City Hall
On November 11, 2019, Njambi was forced to run for safety after gunshots disrupted her address to the media. The MCA was narrating how some of her colleagues were operating dangerously with guns and that they were likely to cause deaths.
"Let the DCI come and confiscate the guns because they are likely to cause deaths. Since when are MCAs allowed to have more than two guns?"
- July 2020: Drama at City Hall
On July 28, 2020, Njambi was among the MCAs that stormed City Hall in an attempt to evict the embattled Nairobi Speaker Beatrice Elachi. In the chaos that ensued during the ouster bid, Mlango Kubwa MCA Patricia Mutheu was beaten up by police and sustained injuries.
- Supporting Elachi's reinstatement
Before Njambi jumped ship to the anti-Elachi team, she was an ardent supporter and lit up the press during a briefing when she supported Elachi's reinstatement. In her address, she heaped praise on the speaker noting that her ouster had impeded service delivery in the county.
- August 2020: Her singing and dancing skills
On August 5, 2020, Njambi resurfaced with another dancing video in which she was belting a Kikuyu tune. Listening closely, the theme of sugar mommies and daddies dominates the track, but it is not clear what her message is. What, however, catches the eye is her dancing and singing skills.
