This archive report was first published on 24 September 2019.
On September 24, 2019, Beatrice Elachi, the ousted Speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly, expressed her reservations about McDonald Mariga's candidacy in Kibra, citing his inability to fill the shoes of the late Ken Okoth.
Elachi, a member of the Jubilee Party, stated that Mariga lacks the capacity to continue the legacy left by Okoth, who was the former area MP. She emphasized the importance of understanding the lifestyle and needs of the people before competing for seats.
“You must set the bar as Ken Okoth. Don’t just go to Kibra,” Elachi advised leaders, as quoted by Citizen TV.
When asked if Mariga could continue with Okoth's legacy, Elachi responded, “No (he can’t) and I’m sorry to say that.”
She also criticized Mariga for failing to register and vote in past elections, saying, “You cannot tell me that Kibra will be the first ones to vote for you when you have never voted for anyone in this country. I am not decampaigning,”
Elachi, who was ousted from her office in September 2018, expressed her willingness to resume her duties and work with the MCA’s, but only after the current leadership in the Nairobi County assembly is reconstituted in both the Jubilee and ODM leadership.
