Little Known Banjuni Community In Lamu Declares Political Stand

As the clock ticks towards the August General Election, the Bajuni Community Kenya on declared to unite and support their candidates to win diverse seats in the oncoming general elections. 

That, to the community found in the Coast say is to have a political voice that will help them push for their rights on development.

The declaration,which is the first of its kind by the Bajuni Welfare association shall reach out to all their community members across the country with a view to unite and have one voice in the political arena.

Bajunis are found in Lamu, Kilifi, Mombasa and many other parts of the nation and are known for their expertise in fishing.

They claim previously divisions have cost them a lot as they could not get a political voice to push for their agenda that’s why they want to have one candidate vying in each political position.

Apart from unity drive to support their own candidates the Bajuni welfare association also want the state to recognize them in the implementation of the blue economy project as they are the ones with rich knowledge of the Ocean.

Speaking to reporters in Malindi to make the declaration dubbed in Swahili as ‘Tamko la Maazimio ya Kibajuni’done by the Bajuni Welfare association in conjunction with all Bajuni associations from all villages they said have resolved for the first time to support all Bajuni political candidates.

Mr Abbas Mohamed who read the statement on behalf of the association said all Bajunis will support their own in Kilifi, Lamu and Mombasa

He gave an example of candidates they will support in Kilifi County Malindi constituency Shela ward as Twahir Abdulkarim, Hafsa Hobein who are all eying the MCA seat while in Lamu there is Umra Omar a Governor Aspirant, Abdul Kassim of Lamu West, Ruweida Obbo, Sharif Athman and Shekue Kahale popularly known as Mwanathi together with other candidates in Mombasa.

The Association will have a mandate to resolve conflicting issues in areas where the same Bajuni community members are contesting so as to get one candidate who will be supported by all.

“We have formed a team to resolve conflicts amongst candidates of the same Bajuni community who have failed to agree and will work together with elders from different villages,” he said in the statement.

He said they are seeking unity on political arena, Economically, education and all issues affecting the Bajuni community.

Mohamed said from the declaration there will be no more divisions among the Bajuni as that has had long term effects to the development of the community.

“All politicians from the Bajuni community who are seeking different political positions this team formed shall play a bigger role in ensuring that they come together to ensure we field one candidate in each political position,” he said.

Mohamed Kussoma one of the aims of the Bajuni welfare association is to forge cooperation, unity and cohesion with all the communities in the country and push for the rights of the Bajunis at large.

He said Bajunis are all over in the country and once united will be able to push for their agenda.

 “All Bajuni children in the country who are seeking political positions we shall stand with them and look for votes from other communities so as to win,” he said.

Famau Mohamed the Interim chairman of the Forum said as Bajunis they have resolved to come together so as to fight for different positions and called on the government to recognize them.

He said Bajunis have suffered in seeking identity cards, birth certificates and their unity will help to push for recognition.

“We appeal to other Bajunis from all corners of Kenya and the world to join this unity drive, let them share their contacts and reach out to us so that we move forward together as a community,” he said.

Dilimua Mohamed a member of the Bajunis welfare Association said divisions among the community has cost them for many years in terms of winning political positions and fighting for their rights.

He said now that they are united it will be easy to push for their rights and pointed out that there was need for the government to recognize the Bajunis in the blue economy project.