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Coast leaders dismiss Kalonzo, Balala pact
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka (left) is assisted by Mvita MP Najib Balala (right) as he tries to reward a pupil from Tom Mboya Primary school as he led other pupils in reciting a Quran verse during official opening of the Makupa Boys Secondary School in Mvita Constituency. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU
What you need to know:
- Former Tourism minister is yet to launch political vehicle, months after he left ODM
The announcement of an alliance between Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Mvita MP Najib Balala has elicited reactions from a cross-section of leaders at the Coast.
While some dismissed it as an attempt by struggling politicians to remain relevant ahead of the coming General Election, others adopted a wait-and-see attitude.
Former Kisauni MP Anania Mwaboza said the touted alliance was just a pact between two individuals and not parties.
“Maybe they want to reach to each other first and then bring up other politicians on board. But at the moment it is his (Mr Balala’s) democratic right to reach out to other leaders,” Mr Mwaboza said.
Mr Abdulsamad Ali Nassir, a Mvita parliamentary aspirant, termed the alliance as a marriage of convenience that would have little impact on the country’s politics.
“We wish them a merry ride in this marriage of convenience,” said Mr Nassir, who is also the chairman of Shariff Nassir Foundation.
Former Kenya National Commission on Human Rights member Hassan Omar said Mr Balala did not control the Muslim votes. Many Muslims, he said, had struggled on their own, and are independent voters who do not follow a particular tribal or religious leader.
“We also do not want leaders who will divide us on religious or tribal lines,”he said.
Ms Amina Abdalla, a Kisauni parliamentary aspirant on a UDF ticket said the alliance between Mr Musyoka and Mr Balala was an extension of the G7.
Nothing new
“There is nothing new in the alliance. The two are moving in the same direction,” she said.
Ms Abdalla was a former Coast coordinator of the VP’s Wiper party before decamping to Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s UDF party. She said the alliance was not necessary and would not have any far reaching effect on Mombasa politics.
“It is surprising that the Wiper Party, which is struggling to make inroads, is now pairing with an unknown party that is yet to be launched ,” she said.
