- What started as a united front to agitate for coastal unity, has since failed to take off as leaders pull in different directions.
- Kilifi and Mombasa legislators have vowed to remain in ODM
- ODM leader Raila Odinga has said the Coastal party is a threat to national unity
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has become a lone ranger in the push for the formation of the coastal political party.
Last Wednesday, Kingi publicly clashed with ODM leader Raila Odinga, saying he will lead his people in formation of a coastal party from a coalition of parties ahead of 2022 polls.
However, according to political observers at the Coast, Kingi might have lost support of his colleagues in the region and control of the elected legislators in his backyard in Kilifi. He only has control of some MCAs.
What started as a united front to agitate for coastal unity, has since failed to take off as leaders pull in different directions.
On February 1, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Kingi hosted 26 MPs and senators in a hotel in Mombasa to discuss the future of the region and the issue of coastal party.
On February 10, Kingi, Joho and Tana River Governor Dhado Godana met in Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja’s home in Wundanyi to discuss the issue of Coast politics.
On February 20, Joho led Coast elected MPs to Lamu to popularise the Building the Bridges Initiative. He was the only governor in the meeting with over 20 MPs.
Kingi, who was supposed to attend the meeting instead held a meeting with MCAs in Kilifi.
The Kilifi governor, who was on the forefront pushing for a coastal party, has since lost the support of other leaders, who have vowed to remain in ODM.
In his Kilifi backyard, Kingi has seven elected MPs, a Woman Rep, Nominated senator and an elected senator.
However, three of the elected MPs; Owen Baya (Kilifi North), Paul Katana (Kaloleni), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi) are pro-Deputy President William Ruto’s recently formed United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
They have been pushing for the ‘hustler nation’ narrative in the region, which was previously predominantly an ODM backyard.
Initially, Jumwa was supporting the formation of a coastal party but she has recently been silent about it.
Other MPs; William Kamoti (Rabai), Ken Chonga (Kilifi South), Teddy Mwambire (Ganze) are die-hard supporters of ODM.
Magarini MP Michael Kingi, who is a brother to the Kilifi Governor, has remained non-committal on which side he supports. He was not present during Raila's rally in Kilifi last week.
Senator Stewart Madzayo, Kilifi Woman Rep Getrude Mbeyu and Nominated Senator Christine Zawadi are supporters of ODM and were all present during Raila's rally in Kilifi and Mombasa.
Last week, the ODM leader said the coastal party will be a threat to national unity.
However, Kingi took issue with Raila’s remarks, asking why other political parties are not a threat to national unity?
“We all know that every political party has its base. The Wiper party enjoys support from Eastern region. Ford Kenya and ANC have support from Western. We need to be honest when we criticise formation of a coastal party,” said Kingi.
On Thursday, during the BBI popularisation rally at Caltex grounds in Likoni, majority of the leaders who spoke, faulted Kingi.
Mbeyu and Zawadi said they do not support the formation of a coastal party.
Howevr, Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi said he was not opposed to a coastal party. “We are however concerned with the timing of this party and the person behind this push. The sponsors of this so-called coastal party are those who oppose BBI and against the development of this region,” said Mwinyi.
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko said ODM is a national party. “Those who want to force us out of ODM are in for a rude shock. We are in ODM to stay and we shall not allow any person to advise us otherwise,” said Mboko.
Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir said the issue of coastal political parties has been around for so many years. It is not something new.
He said ODM is a national party, which has leaders from across Kenya. “Joho is from the Coast and a deputy party leader in ODM. He is second in command, why should we ditch ODM for another party and start from scratch,” said Nassir.
He said those calling for formation of a coastal party should first resign from ODM and seek re-election on the parties they want to join.
“If you are a man enough, resign now, do not wait for 2022. There are so many by-elections happening around,” said Nassir.
-Edited by Sarah Kanyara