Written By Ramadhan Kambi 📝
The political scenario in Kilifi County is recoding new developments as some of the most dominant political parties in the Coast region are facing a big challenge from the newly formed Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) political party.
The PAA party led by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi is recoding a high number of aspirants joining to seek its tickets from different areas of the county.
Of late, the party has received many candidates seeking to vie for different positions ranging from MCA, parliamentary women representatives, Senatorial and governor aspirants.
Governor Kingi used his 21-day tour of the county inspecting projects to popularize the party and strengthen his base in Kilifi County with a view to ensure the party gets support to deliver seats the same way he managed to deliver almost all the seats during the 2017 general elections.
The PAA party leader has been going around the county with his brigades consisting of elected MCAs, nominated senator Christine Zawadi who is eyeing for the woman representative position, former Malindi MP Wily Mtengo, and aspirants seeking different positions.
In each of the meetings Kingi has been receiving defectors from ODM, UDA, KADU Asili, KANU, ANC, and other parties who join in his camp.
During one of the meetings in Kakoneni area of Malindi constituency, PAA received defectors including Kenneth Karisa popularly known as Karisa foundation who wants to be Malindi MP, Gerald Thoya the KADU Asili Party leader among others.
Nomination fears were evident already as there emerged several aspirants in almost every seat with some calling upon the party to ensure fairness to avoid divisions.
In 2017 he managed to conquer all the parliamentary sears, woman rep, senator, governor, and almost all the MCAs while still in ODM and the move seems to be aimed at making it a replica of the previous elections.
Speaking in the local Giriama language Kingi said elders would be used to decide on the best strong and suitable candidate who will be supported by all.
Mr Mtengo however took issue with Karisa who had joined the party as he told him he was welcomed but must have respect to those who have invested in the party since it was formed.
“I am in PAA to stay and won’t quit, the brothers joining PAA I welcome you it’s a democratic party but when you borrow lift in a vehicle you climb back even you will be at the back,” he said.
His sentiments clearly showed he was targeting Karisa when he told him if he ran away from ODM then he should not expect a soft landing in PAA as there are people who have been there from the beginning.
The former Malindi MP thanked the Governor for coming up with the idea of forming PAA moments before finishing his second and last term as Governor.
“When you saw the government being planned you found it wise to form a national political party which has roots from the Coast which is PAA,” he said.
He said past leaders with such a vision died including Ronald Ngala, Jembe Mwakalu, Francis Bobi Tuva, Karisa Maitha, and many others who passed on.
Kenneth Karisa on his part said he has decided to ditch ODM and join PAA so as to work with the governor who has shown the Coastal region people way to go.
“You came with the idea of PAA which is a good plan and I have decided to join fully I know I will battle with my brother Mtengo but we will not differ,” he said.
Amani Mkare an aspiring Member of Parliament for Kilifi North constituency on his part said previously there have been many political parties from outside that came to ask for support from the coastal people.
He said many leaders elected in those parties had no say whenever they went to parliament which really affected the development of the region.
“We were in the party which failed to defend us all those years now we have our own party PAA so as to be able to sit on the same table with the others up there when they plan, we plan together and when they divide, we also benefit,” he said.
Sammy Ndago the Deputy Majority leader of Kilifi County Assembly and Shimo La Tewa ward MCA said Kenya was a democratic country but things always change during political season.
He said in the August polls was important for the coastal people as it will bring liberation if locals will vote for the PAA party.
“To be in government we must not be followers we need to be partners in the government which will be formed in August for us to be partners you must all join PAA,” he said.
Mr Mwaringa Ziro an aspiring MCA in Jilore ward called on the PAA party leader to go to the grassroots and meet elders, youth and women and listen to their views regarding the party.
Malindi town Ward MCA David Kadenge said the enemy at hand in Kilifi is UDA and ODM and called for cooperation to ensure that PAA takes over all the seats from Governor to MCAs.
Allan Karisa an aspirant in Malindi town ward said PAA will liberate the coastal region and ask residents to cooperate and ensure they take over all the seats.
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