The recent move by Governor Amason Kingi that Coast must form its own coalition to have shape its own political destiny has not come out as a surprise. – By Ramadhan Kambi.
It is a song that has been sung in the region and according to some political pundits, its time has come and there is no turning back.
While in Ganze last week in the company of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, Kilifi Governor told Mr Odinga to his face that the region must have its own coalition and it will no longer be dependency on non-regional political parties.
“We have our own political parties at the Coast; Kadu Asili, Shirikisho, Umoja Summit and the Republican Council (RC). What we are currently negotiating are is the coalition of political parties and not a new party,” said Governor Kingi.
The Kilifi boss was angered by Mr Odinga’s statement that forming tribal coalitions was not healthy for this country, a move that that irritated the Governor.
“You are okay with other political formations in Ukambani, in Western, in Nyanza and other regions. When those politicians from those regions come together, it is not a threat but whenever Coast tries to come together, we are branded all manner of names,” said Mr Kingi.
According to Kazungu Katana, time is ripe for the region to have a say after many failed attempts to unite the region.
“We had the Dabaso declaration in 2014 when all Coast leaders came together in Dabaso during the homecoming party for then Kilifi North MP Gedion Mung’aro. They decided to run together and forge a unity of purpose,” said Mr Kazungu.
However even before the 2017 General Election, that unity collapsed and there began the war of words and mistrust among the leaders.
“That was one of the biggest undoing for the leaders because in 2017, they all had fallen out and in Kilifi for example, voted for Mr Odinga’s ODM in all its seven constituencies, and also bagged most of its wards seat at the assembly,” said Mr Katana.
With the Coast region home to more than two million votes, Mr Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto have set their eyes on this number and any slightly mistake among them will cost their Presidential ambitions.
According to Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire, the ongoing negotiations to have a unity of the coast region is going to be done in the best way possible and that nobody from the region will be left behind.
“The Governor spoke his mind and as Coast leaders we shall together continue to consult with each other as we seek to have a very strong unity never witnessed in the history of this region since independence,” said Mr Mwambire.
The Ganze MP, a close ally of Mr Odinga said in Ganze last week that the talks are ongoing well and that within time in near future, the coast leaders will come out and speak with one voice.
Coast Kaya elders have welcomed the move by the Governor saying that it is what the region has been yearning for many years.
The leaders who held several press conferences over the weekend told Governor Kingi to continue with his push to have this region also move ahead having a coalition at the heart of the government in 2022.
Speaking in Mombasa over the weekend Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo also supported the call to have a coast coalition of parties as a bargaining tool for the political negotiations next year.
“We have seen other leaders forming coalitions in different parts of this country and we are not there as coast people. I really support the initiative to have this region now get a political coalition so that we can also sit at the bargaining table in the 2022 General Election politics,” said Mr Mbogo.
But the divisions are still there with Mombasa governor Hassan Joho declaring that he will use the ODM ticket to seek for the Presidency next year.
“I have worked hard for this party and I want to say here that I will seek the Presidency in the next year General Election,” said Joho when he accompanied Mr Odinga in Mombasa.
Mr Odinga even welcomed Mr Joho, Kingi and Kakamega governor Wyclif Opranya to seek tickets for the presidency through the party next year.
But even as the region weighs its option in the 2022 Elections, Dr Ruto has also been eyeing the region taking some of the ODM rebel MPs with him in his endeavor.
Topmost of these Tanga tanga Coast MPs are Aisha Jumwa (Malindi) and Owen Baya (Kilifi North), Mohamed Ali (Nyali). The two together with Kinango MP Benjamin Tayari and Kaloleni MP Paul Katana have been warming up to the DP and have in most of the time accompanied him while in a tour of the coast region.
Whether Coast will go it alone in the next year General Election, the tide has just started to spread to the ocean, and everybody is now watching what will unfold next.
