This archive report was first published on 23 November 2019.
On November 23, 2019, Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi found herself at the center of a potential power shift in the city's government.
Revelations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) implicated Governor Mike Sonko in corruption, paving the way for Speaker Elachi to assume the role of governor if Sonko is found culpable.
With Nairobi County lacking a deputy governor, Speaker Elachi is the next in line to take over as the county's boss.
As seen in the case of Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, who was barred from office by a court order in June 2019, Governor Sonko could face a similar fate if found guilty of aiding and abetting corruption in his administration.
High Court Judge Mumbi Ngugi had previously ruled that Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal should not take office until authorized by the anti-graft agency CEO Twalib Mbarak, setting a precedent for similar cases.
Justice Ngugi observed that Section 62(6) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act was contrary to the constitutional requirement of integrity in governance and national values.
Should the EACC prosecute Governor Sonko, he would be prevented from holding office, allowing Speaker Elachi to take over.
