Coast residents tackle thorny voting issue

Who should vote or vie during the proposed regional assemblies in the harmonized draft constitution polls?

That was a question that exploded like a bomb bringing heated debate between Coast province people and their upcountry colleagues residing in the region at a forum called to discuss the harmonized draft constitution in Mombasa’s Whitesands Hotel on Monday.

Coast residents including Kaya, youth and women leaders at the forum stressed that upcountry people should keep off from their region’s regional assembly elections.

They stressed that any person with his or her roots outside the province should not either vote or contest any seat once their region’s assembly elections are called.

“Devolution means indigenous people benefit from resources and other opportunities found in their region why should they (upcountry people) vote or vie for a post meant for one of us at regional assembly. That’s impossible,” Ms Nariman Rahim declared.

Mzee Pekeshe Deche, a Kaya leader told the forum that it is right time for new constitution delivers the federal system of governance that the Coast people have asked for decades.

He added that allowing “outsiders” to either vote or elected at regional assembly will tantamount to denying region’s youngsters opportunity to explore their leadership talents.

“We should not shatter the long time dreams and aspiration of our heroes the late Ronald Ngala and Shariff Nassir who championed the establishment of federal government (majimbo) government until death,” said Mzee Deche.

Mr Anderson Kingi Ngombo from Magarini district expressed the wish that a clause should be provided in the new constitution where only indigenous or native people be given right to vote and contest seats during regional assemblies elections.

“There should be a clause in the new constitution that clearly stipulates only indigenous people be allowed to be voters or candidates during regional assemblies’ polls,” he said.

But upcountry people ganged up against the views on ground, that Coast province is part of Kenya and the new constitution should treat all people regardless of where they come from.

“There should not be any discrimination or infringement of one’s rights to vote or contest at regional assemblies’ elections, as that will only create open tribalism and nepotism,” said Ms Flora Maina.

Ms Maina added that for purpose of nationhood and patriotism Kenyans, just like freedom of movement, the new constitution should also guarantee the right to political participatios and the democratic rights to vote in any part of nation to all citizens.

However, Lawyer Yusuf Abubakar, former Commissioner with the Constitutional of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) Dr Mohammed Siwazuri and scholar Munir Mazrui cooled down the debate.

Mr Abubakar told the participant that the view will be contrary to the spirit of the constitution and national hood and should be dropped.

He reminded Coast people that at the end of the day they will still need their upcountry colleagues at senate and national parliament on key decisions.

Mr Abubakar challenged residents to follow two steps that they were victims of historical injustices and province joined Kenya on international treat and since they have never benefited since enactment of such treaty let the province attains autonomy from Kenya.

Dr Siwazuri told participants that they stand against Bomas conference that they all called for its endorsement at the forum.

Sheikh Mazrui added that attempt for Coast people alone to govern themselves has previously failed due to division between Mijikenda, Swahili and Arab groups.

“Mombasa Municipal council was in 60s being headed by town clerk mayor and councillors from Coast but we ended up turning against each other,” he told the gathering.

Former cabinet Minister Noah Katana Ngala noted that Coast residents should accept living harmoniously with their upcountry colleagues and that the new constitution should address all issues of concern raised by participants to end historical injustices the residents suffered for decades.