• Elachi revealed when she resigned, she walked away with all the copies of documents in her office.
• She maintained that every promotion during her tenure was made according to the law.
Image: JHR
Former Nairobi County speaker Beatrice Elachi has revealed when she resigned, she walked away with all the copies of documents in her office.
Elachi spoke when she met women aspirants and the media at an event hosted by Journalists for Human Rights.
“I have walked an interesting journey. I still read the negative and positive things but it does not matter anymore,” she said.
“We must do better than what the men do in this political arena. When I was resigning I made sure I had all copies that had my signatures and walked away with them.”
Elachi did this so that when someone tried to accuse her of corruption or any office related misappropriation, she has the documents to back her up.
“I realized that when you don’t steal money people will create stories like abuse of office. When you have documentation, you leave them to create the story then you come with your file and ask them to show you the abuse of office claims,” she said.
Her remarks came as EACC investigated her of allegations of abuse of office.
Elachi served as the second speaker of the assembly from September 6, 2017, until her resignation on August 11, 2020.
The investigations involve alleged acts or omissions causing illegalities and breaches of the law, some resulting in alleged unlawful expenditure and loss of public funds.
When reached for comment, Elachi said every promotion during her tenure was made according to the law.
Right Party
Narrating how she failed during the 2017 elections, Elachi urged the aspirants to pick the right political parties ahead of 2022.
She lost the Dagoretti North constituency seat to MP Simba Arati who is in ODM.
“In 2017 if I wanted to win, all I needed to do is to join ODM but I stood firm with Jubilee. That is what failed me,” Elachi said.
Elachi said the ground had shifted from Jubilee to ODM.
“The morning of that election everyone woke up and started saying Jubilee No... People can change overnight. That night, they turned down everything. So choose the right party it will help you win,” she said.
“I lost because of the party. Everyone told me to go to the right party. Listen to the people on the ground."
Her remarks came as Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru ditched Jubilee to UDA in a bid to win the elections next year.
Waiguru said she consulted and was directed towards joining United Democratic Alliance.
''The bible says when you lack wisdom you ask for it. I have asked for it and I have listened and checked with many members seated here," she said.
''I have asked if it is betrayal if I moved but the message that I was given by everybody is that in politics you must be very careful to stay relevant and listen to the people."
Edited by D Tarus