Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi will be vying for the Presidency under the Pamoja African Alliance party in 2027.
The governor who is currently traversing Kilifi county popularizing his party and marketing Raila Odinga’s presidential candidature said PAA will only field candidates from the governor downwards.
He however warned that the party will field a presidential candidate in 2027.
“This time we are not fielding any presidential candidate but in the next general election the presidency is coming home to the coast and Kilifi in particular. The party will support Raila because we believe in his ideology. We will push him as a party to make sure he delivers what the region demands,” Kingi said
Kingi said there is no fall out between him and the ODM leader.
“I have no issues with Raila. He has been kind to us because he accommodated us in his party since 2007 but it is now time we say thank you and have our own party. That is growth. Let’s vote for him as our president because he is the only hope for this nation,”
He also cautioned residents against falling prey into the political treachery of the deputy president William Ruto.
“Ruto has been in government for over 30 years. During this period he held senior positions but he never realized Kenya has 'mama mbogas' and 'bodabodas'. Even if he is elected today he will still not recognise these people because leadership does not change the character of a person,” he added
He said the DP is endearing himself to the 'bodaboda' and 'mama mboga' as a bait.
“If you want to slaughter a chicken and you cannot run, you pick maize and throw to the chicken. You pretend as if you want to feed it but once it comes near you catch it and slaughter it. That is Ruto.He is using the same formula but his motive is different,” he added.
The governor met opinion leaders in Mwanamwinga and Kaloleni.
In 2017 during his inauguration, Kingi had hinted that he would vie for the presidency in 2022 but shelved his bid after his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho said he would go for the same position.
Joho has also announced he would vie for the presidency in 2027.
The first time the coast region fielded a presidential candidate was in 1992 where Chibule wa Tsuma garnered 10, 221 votes and emerged position six.
He ran on a Kenya National Congress party ticket.
The election was won by Daniel Moi with 1,962,866 votes.
In 1997, the late Katama Mkangi gave a shot at the presidency and garnered 23,484 votes at position seven.
Both Tsuma and Mkangi come from Rabai sub county.
Since then, no other candidate has emerged from the region.
Tsuma was one of the famous seven bearded sisters alongside Abuya Abuya (Kitutu East), Onyango Midika (Nyando now Muhoroni), Mwashengu wa Mwachofi (Wundanyi), James Orengo, Lawrence Sifuna (Bumula), Chibule wa Tsuma (Kaloleni) and Koigi wa Wamwere (Nakuru North, now Subukia).
The seven bearded sisters was a term given to seven Kenyan opposition members of parliament (MPs) after Daniel arap Moi assumed power in 1978 following the death of Jomo Kenyatta.
(Edited by Francis Wadegu)
