Coast leaders should work together for the benefit of this region, Mijikenda elders have said.
The elders from Kilifi said they should in unison work together during the tenure of President William Ruto so as to address the historical injustices that have affected the region for many years.
The elders thanked President Ruto for making former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi Speaker of the Senate and appointing two Cabinet Secretaries from the Coast in his administration.
Former Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya was appointed CS for Mining and Blue Economy while vocal former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa was appointed as CS for Public service, gender, and Affirmative action.
Ms Jumwa is the first woman from the Giriama Community to serve as a cabinet secretary since independence.
Addressing a press conference at Kaya Fungo in Kaloleni constituency Kilifi County the Kaya elders said the president kept his promise by ensuring the port services resumed in Mombasa after taking office and made sure the region got key government appointments which was a positive move.
Nguma Charo a Youth leader Coast and Spokesman of Kaya Fungo said by working together the leaders will be able to push for the development agenda of the region and ensure locals get title deeds and jobs.
Charo said as community leaders want all political leaders to come together so as to use their positions got in government to resolve historical problems.
For example, we can easily end our historical problems such as land issues, as we speak in Kisauni there are 556 that have nowhere to stay after they were evicted by tycoons, he said.
He said the problems of land and unemployment need to be resolved by all leaders together regardless of their political affiliations so that the positions are used to help the coastal communities.
At the Port, Charo said even though Port Services have resumed they want the president to appoint a local as the KPA Managing Director.
We would like all our leaders to ensure that our youth get employment at the port because the majority of them are jobless.
He asked The Senate Speaker, Mvurya, and Jumwa to visit the Mijikenda Kaya elders as they wanted to give them presents after their success in getting top government positions.
Charo Chai a Mijikenda Kaya elder from Kayafungo said their land at the Kaya is being grabbed and asked the president to ensure all Kayas get title deeds.
he said the president should also fulfill his promise of buying 1 million acres of land to settle squatters so that the land issue is addressed in the Coast region.
As Kaya elders we are suffering a lot at the Kayas we have nothing to eat as they have been denied everything, so since you promised to support us we would urge you to come in person do not send a representative, come and see how we are suffering at Kaya Fungo, he said
Charo Mlewa a Kaya Elder from Kayafungo said the elders who stay in Kayas are losing a lot of land because of some tycoons who are grabbing them.
He said they are in the Kayas to conserve the traditions but a few individuals are enriching themselves by grabbing the land and selling it at the expense of the elders.
“So the top leaders such as Ruto should know we want back our land us Kaya elders,” he said.
Mlewa said during the campaigns the president promised to address the land issue and would like to see that happen.
Kaya Fungo secretary Silas Karisa said the president should be keen to address the issue of Mijikenda Kayas ownership documents as they are sacred places for the community but elders have no title deeds.
He said the elders are not happy because they have no food or clothing, and the things required to do their sacred processes in the Kaya require funds for buying the goats, sheep, traditional dances, and even ferrying the kaya elders from their respective areas.
We appeal to the Ministry of culture to come and talk to the elders and hear their plight and find ways of helping them because whenever they pray rains fall and farming normally yields good harvests, he said.
