In the final stretch of campaigns towards next week General Election, Two of Kilifi’s gubernatorial candidates have pledged to recover the Economy of Kilifi County once elected.

George Kithi a renowned lawyer and Gideon Mung’aro who is a former CAS in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Administration are seeking to succeed outgoing Governor Amson Kingi who is completing his second and final term in office.

Kithi who is eying the gubernatorial seat on a Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) ticket promised to revive the ailing tourism sector, fund the education of locals to study free of charge,  and revive all collapsed industries.

On the other hand, Gideon Mung’aro who is the ODM candidate for Kilifi said he has a plan to revamp[ the tourism sector n for Kilifi.

Both Candidates have intensified campaigns for Kilifi County’s top seat in the final round of official campaigns as per the IEBC guidelines.

Speaking at Junju ward in Kilifi South Constituency said if elected he will to ensure 50 percent of the students at the Rondald Ngala Utalii College.

“Those who will be schooling at Ronald Ngalla Utalii college will get scholarships to study free of charge because our system of education in Kilifi is to ensure all children access education for free,” he said.

Kithi said tourism will be uplifted because its the key economic pillar of the county.

He said his administration will open up more industries, increase Economic Processing Zones (EPZ) , revive the collapsed Cashewnut industry in Kilifi town, and set up a new coconut industry to create job opportunities for the youth.

The PAA governor hopefully said beach tourism was unique and only found on the Coast and termed it as a deliberate move by the national government not to market it fully.

he said those authorities were pushing to market only their areas that’s why the sector has switched to Naivasha, Nakuru.

“The tourism sector in Coast region is dead because the leaders who are there are less concerned in promoting the industry, if the authority is From Naivasha he ensures that he pushes for the sector to thrive in that area,” he said.

To him, tourism thrives because of the beach product which is only found in the Coast region that’s why once elected he will market Kilifi county to become the best tourism destination in Kenya and globally.

On his part, Mung’aro who spoke separately during a meeting in Malindi said he would make a difference in three years once elected which shall not be compared to the first 10 years of devolution.

The former Devolution CAS said even the investors have realized that he is headed to victory and have confidence in his leadership.

“Three or four weeks ago I was called to a meeting by the British Embassy, and we have begun strategies of reviving Malindi, Money is there,” he said.

One of the strategies he said is to expand the Buntuani waterfront project which was funded by the World bank government to stretch the developments to Sabaki bridge.

He said the British Government has committed to construct a project from Vasco Da Gama to River Sabaki which once complete shall Make Malindi a 24-hour economy and a global tourism hub.

“There will be lighting, stalls of all kinds, one will be able to walk day and night with his or her family, you can buy clothes, eat, it will be an ultramodern beachfront project,” he said.

Mung’aro who has served as Malindi Mayor, MP for Malindi, and Kilifi North MP before becoming a CAS said the project will be funded by the British Government.

he said the British government has committed to making sure Malindi regains its lost glory which will create jobs.

On Industries he said that once elected he plans to establish a coconut industry in Bomu area of Rabai, Pineapple industry in Magarini.

“By establishing industries we intend to create job opportunities for the people and those already working in the Bodaboda sector shall also get more money,” he said.

Also in the race for Kilifi County include Aisha Jumwa of UDA, Alphonce Dzombo Mbaru of Safina party, and Franco Esposito a Kenyan of Italian origin who is vying as an independent candidate.

Another candidate Michael Tinga of Ford Kenya withdrew from the race and threw his weight to George Kithi last Saturday.

The Chairperson of the Commonwealth group observing Kenya’s elections has called for everyone involved to follow the example of the contenders and commit to a peaceful process.

The team has arrived in Nairobi to observe the 9 August General Elections at the invitation of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, and will be deployed across the country to observe the whole process.

The twenty-member Group has been selected from across the Commonwealth at the request of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Due to unforeseen circumstances, former President of Botswana, H.E. Festus Mogae, has had to withdraw and has been replaced by The Honourable former Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding.

While issuing the Group’s arrival statement, former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding said: 

“Just as politicians have made a commitment to a peaceful election, we urge stakeholders, including the electorate, to commit to doing the same, consistent with the Commonwealth’s values and principles.

“We know how important elections are in a democracy; they empower the people to choose representatives who will, in turn, make decisions on their behalf.

“We, therefore, hope our presence in Kenya serves as a reminder that the people of the Commonwealth stand together with Kenyans as they exercise their democratic rights, recognising how important these elections are to the people of Kenya, East Africa, Africa, and the whole of the Commonwealth at large.”

As part of its work to support the election, an advance team has been on the ground since 16 July to observe preparations ahead of the polls and campaigns. They will now update the main Group about their meetings with stakeholders and their preliminary findings, which will be pivotal for the team’s work and subsequent observation role and report.

After the main Group has been updated by the advance team and met all relevant stakeholders, they will be deployed in small teams to selected counties to observe electoral preparations including the opening of polls, voting, closing, counting and the results management processes.

After this assessment is carried out, the group will issue its interim statement of preliminary findings on 11 August.