Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi has revealed how she survives the male-dominated politics of Kenya as an elected member of parliament.

In an interview with K24 TV on Thursday, July 31, 2025, Elachi stated that, contrary to the popular perception that politics is a dirty game, it is only about interests, and the level to which one is willing to go to achieve those interests.

“If politics were a dirty game, I wouldn’t be in it; it is just that you have to be tough to survive in it. If it were dirty, everyone would run away from it. You have to learn to swim in it and also learn to be tough,” Elachi stated.

All about interests

“It is all about knowing your focus and what you want to achieve by joining politics. Are you able to achieve your agenda since there is a lot of heat, backstabbing, and sabotage?”

Elachi equally observed that it was practically impossible to be loved by everyone in politics, and that what she values most is her vision for the people she represents.

“In politics, everybody doesn’t need to like you. I got into politics because of interest; that is the most important thing; and that is to ensure that the people I represent are served better and can see some transformation,” Elachi said.

She challenged aspiring female politicians to remain firm in their decisions and still exercise their soft power.

“Being tough does not mean you fight physically; you just be firm and still remain with your soft power. You don’t need to become so masculine for nothing,” he noted.

Political journey

Elachi was nominated by the National Alliance Party (TNA) in 2013 to the Senate, where she made history by becoming the first female Majority whip.

However, in 2017, she contested the Dagoretti MP seat but lost to Simba Arati, who is the current governor of Kisii County.

Elachi was then elected as the Speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly in 2017, and impeached a year later in 2018 on accusations of conflict of interest, undermining the County Assembly Board’s authority, abuse of office, gross misconduct, and failure to show leadership.

She briefly served as the Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs, and Special Programmes in 2021 before the positions were declared unconstitutional.

Elachi ran on an ODM ticket in 2022, and clinched the Dagoretti North MP seat after her main competitor, Arati, set his eyes on the Kisii gubernatorial seat.