Nairobi Jubilee Legislator Habiba Ibrahim Hussein Loses Seat

Nominated Jubilee MCA Habiba Hussein lost her seat after Speaker Beatrice Elachi announced that she missed committee sittings for two years.
Nominated Jubilee MCA Habiba Hussein lost her seat after Speaker Beatrice Elachi announced that she missed committee sittings for two years.
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Nairobi nominated Jubilee MCA Habiba Ibrahim Hussein has lost her seat.

Daily Nation was first to report on Tuesday, March 10 that she lost her seat after missing plenary sittings for two years. 

According to Nairobi County Speaker Beatrice Elachi, Habiba rarely attended assembly meetings, committee meetings, and sessions.

Nairobi Speaker Beatrice Elachi (left) has a word with Governor Mike Sonko (right) during the swearing-in of CECMs at Charter Hall on November 10, 2017.
Nairobi Speaker Beatrice Elachi (left) has a word with Governor Mike Sonko (right) during the swearing-in of CECMs at Charter Hall on November 10, 2017.
Daily Nation

The Nairobi County Assembly Hansard, which records verbatim contributions of members, also has very little to show for her contribution.

The house had adopted a report by the Powers and Privileges Committee that was investigating allegations of absenteeism. 

The report had been tabled by the vice-chair and Githurai 44 MCA Naftaly Mathenge.

"The committee noted that Habiba Hussein had neither been attending plenary or committee sittings for the last two years since nomination into the County Assembly," he stated.

He quoted Article 194 (1)(b)of the Constitution, and Standing Orders 242 (1) of the Nairobi County Assembly and advised the speaker to declare the seat vacant.

“I hereby declare the seat of Habiba Hussein vacant. The secretary-general of the Jubilee Party is aware of the position,” concluded Elachi.

This leaves the Jubilee party with 65 members in the county assembly out of the 121 MCAs with 56 of them being from the opposition coalition.

Inside the Nairobi County Assembly chambers.
Inside the Nairobi County Assembly chambers.
Capital Group

The law is clear in article 194 (1) (b) which reads in part "The office of a member of a county assembly becomes vacant if the member is absent from eight sittings of the assembly without permission, in writing, from the speaker of the assembly, and is unable to offer satisfactory explanation for the absence."