Written By Ramadhan Kambi 📝
The push to have Kilifi leaders speak with one voice over Azimio La Umoja Movement has continued to divide Kilifi county leaders.
Those allied to the ODM party support Raila Odinga’s presidency with other candidates on the grassroots to contest in the party while those allied to Governor Amason Kingi’s party PAA support Raila but want to field their party candidates on the ground.
Devolution chief administrative secretary Gideon Mung’aro who is eying for the Kilifi Gubernatorial seat, Malindi politician Phillip Charo and Oscar Wanje a youth leader eying for Ganda ward seat said they fully support Azimio and Raila Odinga’s ODM party.
However former Malindi Member of Parliament Lucas Maitha who represents the Pamoja African Alliance is of the opinion that they support Azimio but must go to the coalition with their own party and field their candidates at the grassroots.
Speaking in Kijiwetanga during a church fundraising Mung’aro said he would officially resign this month and shall officially hit the ground to campaign for his gubernatorial bid.
The CAS said coalitions among political parties were still being formed but confirmed he was in Azimio la Umoja.
“Personally, I was in jubilee party but since the party joined hands with ODM I will be in Azimio and shall vie in an Azimio ticket and support Raila Odinga for president of Kenya,” he said.
Once elected the CAS said he would do all those things which have not been done for the last 10 years including infrastructure, water, agriculture, health, education, reviving industries, and tourism.
“We want to build a pineapple industry CDA built one but it’s far in Hola, we are also in talks with some donors who want to invest in special economic zone projects which in the first phase shall employ 50,000 people.
Mr Charo who is currently the Coast Development Authority Chairman said there are coalitions coming up such as Azimio, Kenya kwanza, Oka adding that there could emerge others.
He appealed to Kenyans not to be divided on tribal grounds by the coalition and ensure they coexist peacefully as the politicians themselves are using the coalitions to get votes.
“I am in Azimio because I found that it’s there when we can benefit as Kilifi or Malindi which can take us to another level,” he said.
He said already plans are underway to kickstart campaigns for Azimio in Kilifi county so as to popularize the movement and ensure people are made aware of the importance of supporting Azimio.
Charo said they are planning to have joint meetings among all political parties supporting the Azimio movement so as to come up with a best way to move together.
“We appeal to residents of Malindi and Kilifi, even though it’s the whole country to ensure they register as voters in large numbers to enable them to elect their leaders of choice,” he said.
Mr Wanje on his part said they support Azimio because it is going to Forster peace adding that as a leader they welcome the new political party laws.
“Azimio la Umoja has united us and we believe that it’s going to bring us together to succeed,” he said.
Mr Maitha said he supports Mung’aro for governor of Kilifi but advised him not to accept an Azimio la Umoja ticket as it would cost him after the election.
He gave an example of Deputy President William Ruto who was powerful in the Jubilee party but was kicked out after the 2017 elections just because the parties had their owners.
To him, Azimio la Umoja belongs to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM party leader Raila Odinga and anyone who will vie for a seat under Azimio is bound to suffer.
Maitha said it’s wise for Kilifi county or Coast at large to join the Azimio la Umoja which he supports but with their own political vehicle and ensure leaders are elected in the party.
“Azimio belongs to Uhuru and Raila we are others to fill numbers but after elections, we will be kicked out if we want issues of our people to be addressed and if Azimio is for us all we want the president to change the law to bring back operations at the port of Mombasa,” he said.
The former MP said they were giving Mung’aro up to February 9 to do his research and make a decision not to contest in an Azimio ticket.
He said other regions like Western, Eastern, and others have their own party, and it’s time for Coast to join the coalition in a PAA party.
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