Tear gas, gunshots and chaos rocked the Nairobi county assembly yesterday as embattled Speaker Beatrice Elachi made an unexpected return to office.
Doors and windows were left broken and dramatic scenes played out inside the chamber as Elachi defiantly attempted to conduct house business.
Assembly security had a difficult time trying to restore order as rival groups of MCAs struggled over the mace.
Outside, rowdy groups chanted in support of Governor Mike Sonko. The governor has written to Jubilee Party to remove Abdi Guyo as the Majority leader.
Guyo leads the opposition to the return of Elachi who was impeached by MCAs last year.
In a letter dated October 4 addressed to Jubilee Party secretary general Raphael Tuju, Sonko accuses the Majority leader of undermining the county government through intimidation and interference.
Sonko says Guyo has made it difficult to implement the Jubilee manifesto in Nairobi.
"Consequently, I am sending you the name of Mark Ndung'u as the new Majority leader-designate. Kindly effect appropriately," Sonko writes.
Elachi's comeback yesterday took many by surprise, splitting the MCAs into those who support her and opponents who back the assembly leadership's rejection of the impeached house boss.
Assembly staff who spoke to the Star in confidence painted the picture of a normal day that suddenly turned into near anarchy.
"It was business usual in the early morning before 8am and most of us had already reported to work," a source said.
"As usual we were within the premises and we saw two ODM MCAs enter the assembly and the gates were opened for them.
"However, as they got in a car hurriedly pulled up and that was when we saw Elachi with MCAs and they got into the assembly."
Elachi was accompanied by a section of MCAs from both ODM and Jubilee. She had two personal assistants who occupied the places they used to sit before the Speaker was impeached last year.
Addressing the media, Elachi said she came back as per court order ready to carry out her duty as Speaker of the assembly.
"I have come back to carry out my duties as the Speaker and to deal with the Majority leader. I challenge him to face me one on one and tell me what I took from him,” she said.
Hitting out at Guyo, Elachi warned that no leader should touch ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
"Women should be respected and the leader should respect the court order as well as the handshake. I’m here to stay and whoever wants to remove me should face me head on," she said.
She was supported by Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga who said women in power should not be abused or intimidated.
The MCAs formed themselves into groups depending on the side they support. At this juncture, tension rose and the pro-Elachi MCAs locked themselves in the office.
Unknown people made their way through the assembly chanting, "Sonko must be respected" as they marched towards the Majority leader Guyo’s office.
Police within the premises hurled tear gas canisters to disperse the huge crowd gathered at the assembly.
During the commotion, police fired in the air and the Speaker’s office was broken into, leaving all the furniture destroyed.
An angery Elachi dared MCAs against her to face her one on one.
The assembly leadership led by Majority leader Guyo has firmly stated that Elachi was impeached and there was no space for her in the house.
"Before we lawfully impeached her she was rejected by the people of Dagoretti and she will not be our Speaker," Guyo said.
"Nobody will impose you on us...you have been rejected before by Dagoretti North constituents , we rejected you and you are trying to get a back through the backdoor."
Waithaka MCA Anthony Kiragu said Elachi had brought goons into the assembly yet she was impeached.
But MCAs supporting Elachi said want her back.
‘We have no problem with the Majority leader but we want him to accept Elachi in office,” nominated Jubilee MCA June Ndegwa said.
“We only want the Majority leader to respect the court order and accept Elachi back. We have no problem with him,” said Mathare North MCA Jared Okoth.
