By Shadrack Nyakoe
ODM has moved to trim the power and influence of Kileleshwa MCA Elias Otieno who is the Minority Leader in Nairobi County Assembly.
The Party through its Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has written to Speaker Beatrice Elachi nominating Nairobi West MCA Maurice Gari to be a member of the Nairobi County Assembly Service Board.
The Party did not give details as to why it has replaced Elias Otieno who was a member of the Board.
However, several MCA; s told Hot News the move is aimed at trimming the powers of Otieno who is reportedly also opposed to Speaker Beatrice Elachi.
Otieno served as the Majority leader in the last term when Guyo was the Minority.
He had a “love-hate” relationship with former Governor Evans Kidero.
Elachi came to City Hall last week and took over her position as the Speaker.
She had been impeached last year but was reinstated by the Court.
Guyo and a few MCAs tried in vain to block her.
Otieno reportedly did not want to take sides in the scuffle and wanted things to cool so that he can secure his position.
He reportedly went to his native Migori County where he has been.
Sonko accuses Guyo of undermining his leadership.
On Wednesday, Jubilee Chairman Raphael Tujuwho met Jubilee MCA’s said the status quo remains and Guyo still remains the Majority Leader.
Tuju said the Party respects the rule of law and that Elachi is the Speaker of the County Assembly.
However, analysts say the Party seems to have other dangerous cards under the table and may pull a surprise on Guyo the way ODM has done to Otieno.
“The Party may maintain Guyo as the Majority leader but have somebody else replace him at the County Assembly Service Board. They will have trimmed his powers and both him and Elias will remain Majority and Minority leaders with less influence,” said an MCA who requested anonymity.
Ngara MCA Chege Mwaura who was the greatest beneficiary of the chaos and was acting Speaker the entire time Elachi was out appears to be the grates causality.
Chege lost his position as Minority whip to Waithera Chege of Nairobi South.
The Speaker of the County Assembly, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, the Clerk and a resident’s representative form the County Assembly Service Board.
The battle at City Hall started last year over the quest to control shs 592 million shillings allocated for development in the last finical year.
The County Assembly has a budget of 1.4 billion and it’s the Control of this cash that has led to bitter rivalry.
Last year, Ngwele had fallen out with Elachi and they have never reconciled.
Otieno’s ouster means he will only hold the title of Minority leader but his influence on the tenders and control of the Millions will wane.