The Coast region is proving to be a key battleground for Jubilee and Cord, with opposition leader Raila Odinga expected there this weekend.
The Cord leader lands at the Coast as President Uhuru Kenyatta continues his working tour of the region that kicked off on December 24.
The two political camps will be fighting it out for the Malindi by-election, with Raila expected to kick off ODM candidate Willy Mtengo’s run on Friday.
Uhuru has already campaigned for Jubilee candidate Philip Charo this week, despite earlier insisting that he was not at the Coast for political competition.
On the other hand, Raila is leading ODM in its bid to recapture the seat that fell vacant after Uhuru poached former MP Dan Kazungu and made him the Mining Cabinet Secretary.
Cord leaders led by governors Amason Kingi (Kilifi) and Hassan Joho (Mombasa) have been complaining about the President’s approach and strategy.
Kingi and Joho have also said that Uhuru has been undermining the spirit of devolution and sidelining them, accusing him of using the state machinery to intimidate them.
According to Nicholas Zani, an ODM politician, Raila will have to come to the Coast to campaign, saying ODM is taking the issue seriously.
“We believe ODM is the only party that can deliver and so we have to prove that,” said Zani.
Raila’s presence will boost his foot soldiers Joho and Kingi’s confidence as they have been at the receiving end from the ruling Jubilee Party throughout Uhuru’s extended stay.
Raila comes to guard against a possible falling out in ODM following Saturday’s nomination protests that culminated in naming Mtengo as the Cord flag-bearer on Tuesday amid protests from Justin Baya, who is contemplating defection.
On Tuesday afternoon at Mtwapa, Uhuru hit out at leaders, saying he is “not in competition with them”.
This was just hours after Raila, in Nairobi, declared ODM would win the Malindi seat even if Uhuru “camps in Kilifi for a whole year”.
Uhuru said he is only working to fulfill pledges he made to Kenyans and his only competition is the time given to him to achieve his goals.
“I am not in competition with any governor, any MP or any other leader. No one will stop me from doing what Kenyans elected me to do. I will implement development in all parts of the country without discrimination,” he said.
Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro, his Kilifi South counterpart Mustafa Iddi and Ganze MP Peter Shehe urged the two governors to respect the President.
They said Joho and Kingi should “go slow” on criticizing the President for his longest and most historic stay in the region.
“He is the only President all Kenyans have and must be respected, irrespective of the political allegiance we have. Governors Kingi and Joho need to cooperate with Uhuru to actualize their development agenda for their people,” Shehe said.
Mung’aro, who has been in the presidential entourage in the Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi tours, said Uhuru has good plans for the Coast people, but needs to be given the space and time to implement them.