The Decision by a section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) politicians in Mombasa to confide that they will remain in ODM to push for Presidency has lifted the lid on the future of the intended formation of Coast Coalition political party. – By Ramadhan Kambi
The formation of the Coast Coalition political party is being spearheaded by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi who has assured the Coastal community that they will have their own 2022 political vehicle by June this year.
Last week while in Mariakani, Governor Kingi said that the new coast coalition will come from the folding of existing coastal parties like Kadu Asili, Devolution Party of Kenya, Umoja Summit, Shirikisho Party among other political parties.
“I want to clarify that we are not forming a new political party but we are folding the existing parties and form a coalition. This time around we must be at the bargaining table and this region must move as one to the 2022 General Election,” said Governor Kingi.
But the clear signs that things must not work right have started to emerge after Mvita MP, Abdulswamad Nassir said they will not move out of ODM to form a new Coast party. Mr Nassir said they have built ODM from its formation and that they will use the same party to seek for Presidency in 2022.
“We cannot move out of ODM to form a new coast party and this is because we built this party from scratch. We shall seek the top leadership in ODM and that is unstoppable,” said Mr Nassir.
The Mvita MP is a close ally of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho who has also received the formation of a Coast party with a lukewarm response. Governor Joho has maintained that he will seek the Presidency on an ODM ticket in 2022, saying that he had invested heavily on the party as its Deputy Party leader.
“We have stakes in ODM. I supported Raila Odinga for all those years and it is my turn to ascend to the top seat in an ODM party ticket,” Governor Joho said recently in Mombasa.
Political pundits points to these events as another stumbling block to the formation of Coast Unity, an old song that has never happened.
Coast political analyst Prof Halim Shauri says that the formation of the Coast regional unity will remain a pipe dream because the leaders pushing for it have a divided ideology.
“If you look at Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, you will discover that at long last, they don’t have any unified agenda but each is trying to look into an exit route after their tenure at the helm of the counties come to an end next year,” said Prof Shauri.
