Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi’s brazen bare-naked attack to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga over Coast Unity in Ganze has been received with mixed reactions. – By Ramadhan Kambi.
Political pundits at the Coast now say that time was ripe for Governor Kingi to tell the truth about the region’s future without the dependency on non-local parties.
Speaking in different interviews with Uzalendo News, they said that Mr Odinga messed the whole situation when he disputed the ongoing negotiations within coast political parties to forge a coalition of coast parties.
One of the commentators Prof Halim Shauri said Mr Odinga expected this because of the ongoing coast negotiations for a political unity of the region and that his statement in Taita Taveta was not to go unanswered and the person to carry that mantle was governor Kingi.
“Raila knew in advance that there are plans to form a coast coalition led by Amason Kingi so when he talked about tribal parties in Taita Taveta, then it was clear that Governor Kingi who is leading the talks would react to this,” said Prof Shauri.
Prof Shauri who is also the Dean; School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Pwani University in Kilifi said there are changes in political setups not only in coast but to the entire country.
“Coast Leadership is Becoming Woke”
“What Mr Odinga is yet to understand is that there are changes in the coast and in the country as a whole. People are tired of empty politics and now wants changes and that is why you can now see this kind of boldness within the leaders,” said Prof Shauri.
He said that Coast has been yearning for a strong leader who can carry the hopes of the coast people to the national level and that governor Kingi has been one of them at the moment.
“Coast is a region where many national leaders have for years thought that the region is asleep but with this kind of changes and charisma has upped Governor Kingi’s political star,” he said.
Prof Shauri said although it is clear that ODM still has some followers but the hundred per cent support that has been enjoyed in the region.
Kazungu Katana, a former spokesman at the American Embassy but now a political commentator at the region said Governor Kingi s boldness in Ganze in front of Mr Odinga painted a picture of a region that is ripe to make its own political moves in the 2022 General Election.
“In many ways Kingi is right because sometimes a time comes when as a leader, you have to lead your people to chat your own way. We have been in ODM for all those years but it is time to look for the region to make its own decision,” said Mr Katana.
Mr Katana said Kingi as an elected leader he must have been listening to his people and make move that is in accordance with their demands.
“What Kingi was actually saying was not from him but from the people of the Coast region are saying. It really needed a brave leader to say, listen, this is what people are saying and this is what we need to do it. Mr Odinga knew this was coming and that is why he was also prepared to respond,” said Mr Katana.
Mr Katana said change has got no timing and that it is clear that the region has to chat its own political way.
“Mr Odinga assisted Kingi to reach where he is but in politics, changes usually occur. Regions and people have to accept these changes and move on. Its time that the region has to put its house in order as we head towards next year General elections,” said Mr Katana.
On Wednesday while in tour of Ganze for a BBI rally, Kilifi governor Amason Kingi told Mr Odinga to his face that the formation of Coast unity is unstoppable and that is the new change that is coming.
Governor Kingi gave Mr Odinga a dressing down over his remark that forming a coast political parties coalition was tribal and a national security threat.
“Baba when you announced that you were coming to Coast for the BBI Iinitiative was very happy. But unfortunately, you went out of your way and addressed our coast party issues. I can tell that the BBI agenda was ruined by your statement over our Coast unity, ” the Governor said.
Mr Kingi said it was unfortunate that any attempt by regional leaders from the Coast to form a coalition is greeted with all manner of discouragement. We can’t take this. What we are forming is a coalition of political parties and not a tribal party, ” said Governor Kingi.
But when he rose to speak Mr Odinga lashed at Governor Kingi reminding him that he never talked about those issues while still in office and is speaking about them because he is leaving the office.
Mr Odinga said he held the Governor s hands while still green in politics, giving home several ministries to run but can now have the guts to plan chatting away from him.
“I held your hands. I gave you fisheries ministry, East Africa ministry. When this was happening, you did not see the need to move out of my hands. Didn’t you see this when I held you high,” said Mr Odinga.
