WUNDANYI legislator Thomas Mwadeghu has denied engineering the removal of Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro as opposition chief whip, a move that has divided Coast leaders into two factions.
Mwadeghu took over from Mung'aro the powerful post of Minority whip in the National Assembly in July last year. This changed the political equation in the Coast, starting a turf war in the region with Mung’aro blaming Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho for his removal.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National Assembly leadership retreat at Serena Hotel on Tuesday, Mwadeghu, a close ally of Governor Joho, said he is ready to work with Mung'aro since they share the same political ambitions.
"I wish to inform the Coast people that I never took Mung'aro's Minority chief whip seat, but I had no option but to succeed him because Cord had threatened to take it to another region, so I never wanted us to lose this position," said Mwadeghu.
Over 20 MPs backed Mung'aro then against a clique of their colleagues who were led by Joho in a month-long war of words that eventually saw the Kilifi North MP lose the seat to Mwadeghu. The coup has defined the local political cleavage ahead of the 2017 general election.
At one point the pro-Mung'aro group urged Mwadeghu, whom they perceived as a 'traitor', to give up the post if he really had the interests of the residents of the Coast at heart.
However, leaders who supported the Wundanyi MP dismissed the call.
Mwadeghu said yesterday: "When this debate came up, I first backed Mung'aro, but Cord pushed on his removal in a second attempt while I was out of the country and on jetting back I was told to choose between taking the position up or letting it go to another region.
I had no option but to take it up."
Mwadeghu, who defended Mung'aro's political initiatives of uniting the residents of the Coast, said he will back the efforts since he also aspires to see unity of purpose in the region.
"I share the same ambitions with Mung'aro because while I aspire to be the next Governor of Taita Taveta county, my friend is also eyeing the Kilifi Governor post.
Our dreams will be realized only if we work together," said Mwadeghu.
Mung'aro and Mwadeghu are currently the Coast Parliamentary Group chair and secretary respectively.