Azimio Leaders Tell Off UDA Over Joho Hand In Kilifi Race

Written By Ramadhan Kambi 📝

Azimio leaders in Kilifi County led by ODM governor nominee Gideon Mung’aro have told off Kilifi North MP Owen Baya’s statement that  Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho wants to control Kilifi County through Gideon Mung’aro.

The leaders who included  Senator Stewart Madzayo said the statement by the UDA team led by Aisha Jumwa and Owen Baya were uncalled for since everyone has the right to campaign in every part of this country.

The leaders spoke at the Malindi Redcross offices moments after Mr Mungaro was cleared by the IEBC to vie for the Kilifi gubernatorial seat in an ODM ticket.

“It is a shame that at this time and age, we still have leaders who can talk in total utter ignorance like what we saw in Kaloleni. Governor Joho is the deputy party leader of the ODM party and has every right to come and campaign in Kilifi and the entire country,” said Mr Mung’aro.

Mr Mungaro said as leaders, the UDA team should weigh what they are saying in public insisting that there are boundaries in Kenya for a Kenyan politician to traverse.

He also said that governor Joho had invested in the health sector in Mombasa and that most of Kilifi patients seek better health services in Mombasa after Kilifi failed to address health care system.

“They(UDA) wants to return us to the dark days when Kenyans would be judged by their tribal affiliations and boundaries. It is not the case anymore,” said Mung’aro.

Mr Mung’aro who was on Sunday cleared by the IEBC said that his opponents in the race have panicked, a reason they have started to make all manner of accusation.

“We will not stop Governor Joho from coming because he is a very senior and respectable figure in our ODM party. He has no limits on where to visit or attend political meetings and rallies,” Mr Mung’aro

“If we mean that no outsider from Kilifi should stop from campaigning then it should be genuine. If they want Joho not to attend Kilifi campaign meetings, then why do they bring in Deputy President William Ruto who is also a none Kilifian to campaign in this region. It is very unfortunate that leaders can become that petty and start engaging in talks that can bring divisions in our country,” said Mung’aro.

Mr Madzayo said UDA leaders in Kilifi had ready sensed3an early defeat and that is why they had resolved to crybaby using Governor Joho as their excuse.

“I watched Mr Owen Baya and his team speak and I was shocked that leaders would go to that level of saying that certain leaders should not cross to other regions. I know Joho is a serving governor who lives and has invested in Kilifi. So there is no way one can be barred from stepping in this county. That statement was uncalled for,” he said.

Malindi MP aspirant Amina Mnyazi also poked holes on the UDA statement saying that they will continue to work with governor Joho since he is the deputy party leader of the ODM party which he is campaigning for.

“Governor Joho has been working hard to bring together the Coast people. We have seen his efforts and we shall continue to support his efforts,” she said.

Magarini MP aspirant and veteran politician Harry Kombe said the appointment of Governors Joho to the lands docket in the Azimio government was the best option in addressing the land issue at the Coast region. He also asked the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to investigate the statement by the UDA politicians he said amounted to a hate speech.

“Those who said that Joho should not come to Kilifi must be investigated by the NCIC because that amounted to hate speech,” said Mr Kombe.