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Member of Parliament, Dagoretti North
Born
1973(53 yrs)
Region
Nairobi
Constituency
Dagoretti North
Public Views
Experience
Documented career positions
Beatrice Kedeveresia Elachi (born 1973, Kakamega) is a prominent Kenyan politician, legislator, and former government official who currently serves as the Member of Parliament for the Dagoretti North Constituency. A career politician with a background in peace and security studies, Elachi has occupied several high-profile political and administrative positions in Kenya, gaining national recognition for her leadership in the Senate and at the Nairobi City County Assembly. Born in Kakamega, Elachi attended St. Teresa’s Primary School before proceeding to Moi Girls Vokoli High School in Vihiga County for her secondary education. She later enrolled at Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi, where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Peace and Security Studies. Prior to entering frontline electoral politics, Elachi worked in the development and gender advocacy sectors. Between 2003 and 2010, she served as a Programs Officer for the United Nations Program for Women (UN Women), collaborating with the National Council of Women of Kenya and the Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development. She also served as the Secretary-General of the Alliance Party of Kenya from 2010 to 2013. Elachi’s formal political career began in 2013 when she was nominated to the Senate of Kenya as a member of The National Alliance (TNA). During her tenure in the Upper House, she made history by becoming the first female Majority Chief Whip in the history of the Kenyan Parliament. In 2017, she transitioned to county-level politics, contesting the Dagoretti North parliamentary seat but ultimately losing to the incumbent, Paul Simba Arati. Following this, she was elected as the Speaker of the Nairobi City County Assembly in September 2017. Her tenure as Speaker of the Nairobi City County Assembly was marked by significant controversy and turbulence. In September 2018, she faced an impeachment process amid allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of office, and gross misconduct. Although she challenged these developments in court and was briefly reinstated, her relationship with the assembly remained fraught. On August 11, 2020, Elachi resigned from the position in a televised address, citing persistent leadership wrangles and threats to her safety. Following her resignation, she served briefly in the executive branch as a Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs, and Special Programmes in 2021. In the 2022 Kenyan general election, Elachi returned to the ballot, running for the Dagoretti North Constituency seat on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket. She was successful, securing the parliamentary seat and returning to the National Assembly. As a Member of Parliament, she has focused on legislative duties and constituency development. Throughout her career, she has been a vocal advocate for women's political representation and gender-responsive governance. Elachi is married and a mother, and she is known in the public sphere for her resilience in navigating Kenya's often volatile political landscape.
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Member of Parliament, Dagoretti North (2022-Present)
Former Speaker, Nairobi County Assembly (2017-2020)
Former Senate Majority Chief Whip
Her tenure as Nairobi County Speaker was tumultuous, marked by physical altercations, multiple impeachments, and long-running battles with MCAs and then-Governor Mike Sonko.
In September 2018, Beatrice Elachi was impeached as Speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly by 103 MCAs who cited abuse of office, gross misconduct, and conflict of interest. The allegations included the misappropriation of public funds for personal travel and surgery, as well as undermining the authority of the County Assembly Service Board.
Following her impeachment, Elachi engaged in a prolonged legal battle to retain her position, successfully obtaining a court order in 2019 that reinstated her as Speaker. Her return to office was marked by significant political instability, including clashes with MCAs and allegations of using police to interfere with assembly operations.
News articles featuring Beatrice Elachi
Former Nominated Senator
Worked as a Customer Care Representative at Nakumatt Holdings between 1996 and 1998.
Served as a Programs Officer for Shelter Women from 1998 to 1999.
Obtained a Certificate in Peace Building and Conflict Resolution from Tangaza University College in 2000.
Served as a Community Mobilizer for Kangemi Women from 1999 to 2003.
Worked as a Programs Coordinator for the National Council of Women of Kenya from 2003 to 2005.
Obtained a Certificate in Gender and Development from the Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development in 2005.
Served as a Coordinator for the Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development from 2005 to 2007.
Served as the outreach manager for the Kibaki Tena political campaigns in 2007.
Served as the Executive Director of The League of Kenya Women Voters from 2009 to 2010.
Served as the Secretary General of the Alliance Party of Kenya from 2010 to 2013.
Nominated to the Kenyan Senate as a member of The National Alliance (TNA) party in 2013.
Appointed as the Senate Majority Chief Whip in 2013, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the history of the Kenyan parliament.
Received the 'Wanjiku's Best Representative – Food' award in 2014 for her efforts to address food security as a senator.
Graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Peace, Governance and Security Studies from Africa Nazarene University in 2016.
Elected as the Speaker of the Nairobi City County Assembly on September 6, 2017.
Resigned from her position as Speaker of the Nairobi City County Assembly on August 11, 2020.
Served as the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes from 2021 to 2022.
Elected as the Member of Parliament for Dagoretti North Constituency in August 2022.
In November 2019, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) launched investigations into Elachi regarding fresh allegations of abuse of office. These included accusations of irregularly appointing an acting County Assembly Clerk and attempting to eject the substantive clerk in defiance of a court order.
In August 2020, Elachi resigned from her position as Nairobi County Assembly Speaker following persistent political pressure and a renewed push for her impeachment. She cited safety concerns and death threats as the primary reasons for her decision to step down.