Some leaders from the Mijikenda community have said Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro is the undisputed king of Coast politics, dismissing reports that he is fighting for the mantle with Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.
Speaking to the Star at the Mombasa Club yesterday, the leaders said Joho is a political novice compared to Mung’aro and has no numbers to justify his claim to the title.
Led by Naomi Cidi, the Coast People’s Forum patron, the leaders criticised Mombasa woman representative Mishi Mboko, who had said Joho is the region’s kingpin with influence from the grassroots to the top.
“Which criteria did Mboko use to arrive at that conclusion? We all know she is a Joho sycophant because she was put there by Joho. I know because I was in ODM when it happened,” CPF chair Beatrice Gambo said.
Gambo, who is a former adviser of Cord leader Raila Odinga, said political supremacy is measured by the numbers one has.
“I have met political kingpins both in the country and abroad. I know all about being a kingpin. Mung’aro is one, Joho is not,” she said.
“When Mung’aro walks and looks behind him, there will be 2.3 million Coast people following. When Joho walks and looks behind him, there will be only 200,000 people.”
Cidi said to be a Coast political kingpin, one has to command the majority of the residents.
She said Mung’aro, a Mijikenda, has the command of the more than two million Mijikendas.
Mijikenda Youth Forum chair Nyonga wa Makemba said Joho is still a “class two pupil” when it comes to politics, unlike Mung’aro, who he said is like a “university professor”.
“You cannot compare Manchester United with Mafuko Bombers FC,” he said.
Makemba said Joho supporters are disturbed by Mung’aro’s closeness to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He said Uhuru and Mung’aro have been friends since 1992 and their closeness should not make people sweat.
