• The USPK chair said Raila is being disrespectful by dismissing calls for a regional party that will give the Coast a stronger bargaining voice at the national table.
• Raila has been dismissive of calls for a regional party, saying it goes against the tenets of the Constitution.
Image: BRIAN OTIENO
Coast-based Umoja Summit Party of Kenya's leaders have faulted ODM boss Raila Odinga for dissuading the region from having their own party.
USPK chair Matano Chengo said it is time the Coast dissociates itself from ODM.
“We respect Raila as a veteran politician but he is now losing his way,” Chengo said by phone.
The USPK chair said Raila is being disrespectful by dismissing calls for a regional party that will give the Coast a stronger bargaining voice at the national table.
Raila has been dismissive of calls for a regional party, saying it goes against the tenets of the Constitution.
“ODM is a national party that will unite the region more than forming other parties,” Raila said in Taita Taveta.
On March 3, Raila and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi clashed over the calls for a coalition of Coast-based parties, with Raila accusing Kingi of being selfish.
“I was with him in 2007. I supported him for governor and now that his term is ending, I wanted him to come to national politics. He now wants to run away and is talking about Kadu Asili,” he said in Kilifi on Wednesday.
“ODM was good for him all along but with 2022 approaching, he is now saying another party is better.”
Kingi insisted a coalition of Coast-based parties like Kadu Asili, Shirikisho and USPK is the best way to go for the region.
Kingi said there were no plans of forming a new party but consolidating the existing ones to come up with a coalition that will drive the political and economic agenda of the region.
“Do not give us a bad name. As Coast leaders, we do not want to isolate the region. People should be allowed to form alliances. That is how we will respect each other,” the governor said.
On Sunday, Chengo said ODM, Wiper, Ford Kenya and ANC are national parties with roots from different parts of the country.
He said the Coast should also be allowed to have a national party with roots there.
“When Coast wants to join hands as a region, there is all manner of criticism. We are no longer a stepping stone,” Chengo said.
USPK secretary general Naomi Cidi said the region is now mature enough to chart its political way forward.
“We have been serving other people’s interests for too long. It is now time we serve our own interests,” Cidi said.
Chengo said the Coast has been supporting ODM for over a decade with nothing to show for it.
He noted the region has been giving Raila more votes than Nyanza has, despite Nyanza being Raila’s backyard.
“He should let us solve our Coast problems. Let him solve the problems in ODM,” Chengo said.
Elsewhere, Kaloleni MP Paul Katana has cautioned leaders from other regions against disrespecting those from the Coast.
Katana on Saturday faulted remarks that the Coast region should not come together and form a political party.
He spoke at Maoro Primary during the groundbreaking for five classrooms at the school. The classrooms will be built at a cost of Sh7 million.
“Several regions are uniting but when the coast region wants to follow the same route it is regarded as a threat to national unity. Stop the doublespeak,” Katana said.
Mwanamwinga MCA Pascal Thuva called on Raila to give the region a chance.
Thuva said the region has been supporting Raila and it is now the former prime minister's turn to make sure the region stands politically.
“The region wants to unite and maybe it will form an alliance with ODM. No one is planning to ditch ODM but it is not bad if the region comes together to make independent decisions,” Thuva said.
Mijikenda Kaya Elders Association also warned Raila against interfering with the Coast region’s political plans.