• Most leaders are on loyalty dilemma after Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi beseeched them to join his soon to be launched Pamoja African Alliance party.
• Kilifi North MP Owen Baya who was vocal on the formation of the coast region political party has called on Kingi to ditch the idea and join him in UDA.
Image: ELIAS YAA
Kilifi leaders are sharply divided on the political course to take ahead of the 2022 general election.
Most leaders are on loyalty dilemma after Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi beseeched them to join his soon to be launched Pamoja African Alliance party.
PAA is planning to open offices in all the 47 counties and in at least 26 constituencies in the coast region.
The same leaders who have been on the forefront in calling for the formation of a national political outfit with roots from the coast region, are the same leaders who are adamant to join Kingi.
Kilifi north MP Owen Baya who was vocal on the formation of the coast region political party has called on Kingi to ditch the idea and join him in United Democratic Alliance.
Baya who was highly criticised by a host of MCAs allied to Kingi castigated Kingi for belittling himself to regional politics.
Baya said Kingi’s political influence is beyond the coast region.
“Governor I know you as a sharp guy. I have worked with you and I know your capabilities. Stop wasting your intelligence by championing regional politics. That is not where you belong. Leave regional politics to the MCAs and join the national politics,” Baya said.
“I am John the Baptist. I am preparing the way for you in the national politics,” he added.
The MP encouraged Kingi to spread his wings and go for the big seat.
“In this region you have no match. Come to UDA and we will talk with the Deputy President William Ruto, whom I am sure will be the fifth president of this republic. You can be his deputy,” Baya said.
Baya said Kingi cannot go back to ODM because of the mistreatment he received there.
Kingi on his part urged Baya to leave UDA and come back home to the new party he is about to launch.
“I started plans to register a party long time ago. At some point I went quiet about the issue and Baya thought I had shelved the plans. He took to social media and abused me so much.
"I went to one of his Facebook posts and I could clearly see the tears in his eyes while he was writing the post. I want to tell you the party and I know deep in your hearts you are a strong believer of this process. Come back home,” Kingi said.
Kingi warned that it would be useless to vie for a bigger seat without consolidating his support back home.
“We had people from this region who vied for the presidency but got very few votes. This is because they did not have the support back home.
"Let us go there with our own party so that we can know we are joining the national politics with the backing of our people,” Kingi said.
Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire said other parties other than ODM have no place in Kilifi county.
Mwambire last week affirmed ODM's support in Kilifi together with Rabai MP William Kamoti, Kilifi south MP Ken Chonga, Kilifi women MP Getrude Mbeyu and Kilifi Senator Steward Madzayo.
Madzayo who has been accompanying Kingi in most of his public engagements has decided to keep off the debate.
Four Kilifi MCAs led by deputy majority leader in the assembly Sammy Ndago said Baya is being used to scatter the unity calls.
“Owen I know you are a principled person and you can make very firm decisions. You are also intelligent. We want your intelligence back home. UDA is not our party,” he said.
The MCAs who have publicly backed Kingi in the quest to form the PAA are Ndago (Shimo la Tewa), Gilbert Peru (Sokoni), John Mwamutsi (Kibarani) and Thomas Chengo (Tezo).
Baya and Aisha Jumwa are the Kilifi MPs who have publicly announced to support UDA.
Kaloleni MP Paul Katana and Magarini MP Michael Kingi have not made it public if they are still supporting ODM or will shift to other parties though at some point they had a leaning towards Ruto.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)