NEW CHAPTER

Kingi's PAA party bags Senate Speaker, three MPs and 17 MCAs

The outfit signed an agreement with Ruto's Kenya Kwanza before election

In Summary
  • Kingi was elected Senate Speaker last week, becoming the first from the Coast to occupy the seat.

  • Speaking to Star, PAA chairman Ibrahim Hamisi said that the future looks bright for the party.

Pamoja African Alliance national chairman Ibrahim Khamis flanked by outgoing Mombasa deputy governor William Kingi at the party offices in Mombasa on September 9, 2022.
NEW CHAPTER: Pamoja African Alliance national chairman Ibrahim Khamis flanked by outgoing Mombasa deputy governor William Kingi at the party offices in Mombasa on September 9, 2022.
Image: ONYANGO OCHIENG'

The Pamoja African Alliance, which was formed in October last year, managed to scoop three MP seats and 17 MCA seats across the country, the party leadership has said.

PAA won the Kinango, Ganze and Rabai MP seats.

It also scooped seven MCA seats in Kilifi county assembly, four in Kwale county, five in Taita Taveta county and an MCA seat in Malava ward, Kakamega county.

The party, which signed an agreement to support the Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate William Ruto in May this year, has also already bagged the Senate Speaker position.

Former Kilifi governor Amason Kingi, who is PAA leader, was elected Senate Speaker last week, becoming the first from the Coast to occupy the seat.

Speaking to Star, PAA chairman Ibrahim Hamisi aka Babangida said that the future looks bright for the party.

“To be honest, when we formed the party last October, our goal was actually the 2027 general election because we thought the time had already gone. But we decided to give it a try,” he said.

“We are happy with the results, we had targeted six MP positions and at least a governor seat.”

Hamisi said that the party was close to getting the new Taita Taveta governor Andrew Mwadime, but he bolted out at the last minute to go independent.

“We came close in Kwale and I believe this the beginning of a new political tool for the coastal people,” he said.

Hamisi also congratulated his party leader on his election as Speaker.

He also hailed the move by Coast senators to vote for Kingi to be Speaker, saying it demonstrated that democracy in the region had grown.

Hamisi also hailed President-elect Ruto for honouring the agreement PAA signed with Kenya Kwanza.

“We expect that the President, once sworn into the office, will not relent in delivering on the promises he made to the people of the Coast. Top in his priority should be the land issue that has bedevilled the region for years,” he said. 

“We also want him to revive the region’s economy by returning port operations to Mombasa, exploration of the Blue Economy and inclusivity of coastal people in all government sectors.” 

Outgoing Mombasa deputy governor William Kingi who unsuccessfully tried to succeed his predecessor, outgoing Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, said that as a party, they did not take it for granted for their party leader to be considered and elected to the post of Senate.

“It is an honour to our party and the people of the Coast what the Kenya Kwanza coalition bestowed upon us, coming after years of Coast leaders operating on the margins of national politics,” he said.

“The election of the new Senate Speaker Amason Kingi heralds a new beginning of inclusion of all under the Kenya Kwanza administration.”

Kingi also thanked all Coast senators for casting their votes for the former governor to be the third speaker of the Senate, irrespective of party affiliation.

He urged the Coast leaders to put the interests of the people first in the spirit of give and take.

Kingi also thanked Ruto for remaining true to his word in honouring the Memorandum of Understanding between PAA and the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

“The spirit of faithfulness to political agreements as demonstrated by this act will go a long way towards restoring the dignity of politics in our country,” Kingi said. 

“As a young party, we will endeavour to grow the spirit of positive cooperation between parties.”

 

(edited by Amol Awuor)

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