Exit Balala, in comes religion

Mvita MP Najib Balala’s sacking from the Cabinet and the angry reaction from Muslim leaders following the decision appears to have added a new dimension to the race for Mombasa County seats.

The decision by Prime Minister Raila Odinga has introduced the issue of religion into the Kibaki succession politics in a way it has not featured since 2007.

Some Muslim leaders say the decision was an attack on one of their own while allies of Mr Odinga say Mr Balala courted his own fate by openly contradicting his party chief on a variety of issues.

A candidate for the Mombasa gubernatorial post, Ibrahim “Babangida” Hamisi, said Mr Balala’s sacking would raise his profile.

“The PM is making a big mistake that may cost him the presidency,” he claims.

The religious card has played out in the Coast since the early 1990s that saw the unregistered Islamic Party of Kenya (IPK) compete for supremacy with the United Muslims of Kenya later renamed the United Muslims of Africa (Uma).

To counter the influence of IPK in Mombasa, the Kanu regime sponsored Uma to split Muslims of African descent from the allegedly Arab-dominated IPK led by fiery preacher Sheikh Khalid Balala.

But, speaking on the phone, Sheikh Amir Banda dismissed views that there were Imams-for-hire, saying that what befell the Mvita MP was of his own making for showing disrespect to the party that sponsored him to Parliament.

“[Mr] Balala displayed gross misconduct when he started talking about forming his own party while still in the ODM house and inciting Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi to quit the party,” he says, adding that the National Muslim Leaders Forum (Namlef) officials should not use this to split the Muslim fraternity.

According to Sheikh Banda, the MoU only talked about nomination of Muslim MPs and councillors on ODM ticket and there was no discussion about the appointment of ministers or retention in the Cabinet.

But demands put on the PM during the Tononoka meeting on Wednesday that he returns the ministerial position to the Mombasa County bespeaks dissatisfaction over the appointment of Mr Dan Mwazo as the Tourism minister.

Mombasa being the heart of the Coast region, it was Changamwe MP and Environment assistant minister Ramadhan Kajembe’s wish that the flag should have been given to one of the three ODM legislators.

Kisauni MP Hassan Joho, who was appointed Transport assistant minister, told the PM in Mombasa on Tuesday that all “political leaders representing constituencies in Mombasa County are Muslims and could discharge the role of ministers”.

Did not consult

This, according to Coast Land Rights Lobby Group chairman Haji Mwakio, indicates that the PM did not consult well before picking the Voi MP to replace Mr Balala.

“Driven by political agenda to fix a dissenting voice, the PM overlooked so many factors that triggered outrage from the Muslim community and Coast people at large,” Mr Mwakio said in a telephone interview.

In his view, even Mr Joho’s appointment will not appease the disgruntled elements, some of them renown hoteliers who have expressed their disappointment and reservations over Mr Balala’s sacking.

On his part, the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Taita Campus principal, Prof Hamadi Boga, feels that replacing “Juma with Rashid” does not change the ministry of Tourism’s policy framework and structure.

“Whether it is Mr Balala or Mr Mwazo at the helm, the ministry has its structures and frameworks that must be adhered to for operation. Ministers are just but political figureheads and government mouthpieces,” he says.

Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association chairman Mohamed Hersi said it was unfortunate to settle political scores through ministerial positions, saying this showed “political intolerance” on the part of leaders.

But the Kenya Hotel Keepers and Caterers Association chairman Titus Kangangi praised the appointment of Mr Mwazo, saying it would bring “new blood” and ideas.

Taita Taveta County ODM secretary of Women’s Affairs Fridah Mwadime expressed satisfaction over Mr Mwazo’s appointment, saying he will use the ministerial position to tackle pertinent issues affecting the locals.

She cited the human-wildlife conflict, land ownership problems, invasion of mining areas and utilisation of water resources by Mombasa City without benefits trickling to the county’s revenue kitty.

“It is opportunity for the new minister to formulate policies within the tourism sector to benefit our county, like the way Narok benefits from the Maasai Mara earnings,” she said.

The secretary asked critics to give the minister time to prove his mettle and not to judge him based on his role as an MP.

She said political interests within the constituency could be used to undermine the minister in every aspect of development.