This archive report was first published on 24 September 2019.
Nairobi County Speaker Beatrice Elachi has thrown her weight behind Imran Okoth, the ODM candidate for the Kibra parliamentary seat, in a scathing attack on footballer Mariga's bid.
Elachi, a member of the ruling Jubilee party, said Mariga lacks the experience and understanding of the Kibra community to succeed the late MP Ken Okoth.
“For anyone going to Kibra, they must set the bar high just like Ken Okoth…Mariga cannot continue Okoth’s legacy,” Elachi told Citizen TV on Tuesday morning.
She accused Mariga of being unprepared for the role, saying he had never voted in Kibra and had no projects to show for his time in the area.
“You want to go to Kibra for its people to vote for you and yet you have never voted anyone?” Elachi posed.
Elachi also criticized Mariga for not building a football academy in Kibra, saying this would have shown his commitment to the community.
“You are not campaigning..I can go to any county and you start a project. You are not de-campaigning the leader.. he is a good footballer. I would want to know how many academies are there,”she said.
