This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
On Wednesday, Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi returned to her office, marking a significant development in the ongoing power struggle within the assembly.
According to sources, the return was not a snap decision but the result of a series of behind-the-scenes meetings in Nairobi involving select ward reps from Jubilee and ODM.
These meetings, which began several weeks ago, were aimed at finding ways to clip the powers of Majority Leader Abdi Guyo, following a recent falling-out between him and Governor Mike Sonko.
On Sunday last week, a key meeting was held where the final touches on how Ms Elachi would resume office were agreed upon.
Ms Elachi's return has been linked to a recent falling-out between Governor Sonko and Majority Leader Abdi Guyo, with the governor allegedly orchestrating ways to get back at his friend-turned-foe.
Mr Sonko is said to be upset with Mr Guyo, accusing him of giving him away to the anti-graft agency, with a video allegedly showing Mr Guyo meeting with a senior officer from the agency.
On October 4, Governor Sonko wrote a letter to Ms Elachi, calling for the removal of Mr Guyo and suggesting that he be replaced by Maringo Hamza MCA Mark Ndung'u.
Mr Sonko accused Mr Guyo of undermining his administration, making it difficult for the county to implement Jubilee's manifesto.
Signs of a crack in the relationship between the two started to show two weeks ago, when the governor ran a full-page advert castigating Mr Guyo and Minority Whip Peter Imwatok over statements attributed to them in a story published by a newspaper.
On Wednesday, about 100 goons invaded the assembly corridors, shouting at Mr Guyo and accusing him of backstabbing the governor.
Ms Elachi rejected claims that the governor was involved in her return, saying the constant abuse she has been receiving from Mr Guyo provoked her to come back.
