Presidential hopefuls scramble for Coast

• Residents say politicians should not assume that they have the region in their pockets and should get out and campaign

The visit by Internal Security minister George Saitoti and his Foreign Affairs counterpart Moses Wetang’ula to the Coast last week set off a flurry of political activity seen as a scramble for the region’s votes.

There is a realisation that the region, with five counties and a voting bloc of more than one million people, could provide the swing vote needed to win the presidency in the next General Election.

Prof Saitoti arrived in Mombasa county and immediately began scouting for local leaders to beef up his grassroots support from different communities.

Sources said the PNU chairman approached a number of grassroots leaders whom he asked to join his campaign team.

Mr Wetang’ula also used his working tour of Tana River and Kwale counties to sell his Ford- Kenya party.

His visit to Kwale, according to Gombato Bogwe Ward Councillor Omar Boga (ODM), should be a wake-up call to his party leader Raila Odinga not to assume the entire county was backing ODM.

A majority of voters the region backed ODM and Mr Odinga in the 2007 General Election.

Met leaders

“The last time our party leader visited Kwale for campaign purposes was four years ago, and that is a long time to assume you are still popular. He only goes to Meru and other places that did not vote for ODM,” said the councillor in a telephone interview.

In Tana River, the Ford Kenya chairman met local communities’ elders from six of the nine wards at Hola County Hall on Saturday, proceeding to Hola primary school where he opened a dining hall.

Accompanied by assistant minister Bifwoli Wakoli, the minister was in Kwale on Sunday and met more than 100 Muslim sheikhs at the Red Cross Centre in Diani where land, religion and the fight against terrorism were discussed.

However, a participant at the meeting dismissed the minister as not “a serious presidential candidate” but one seeking to be noticed as “a potential running mate” of a formidable candidate.

“Let’s call a spade a spade and not a big spoon. After listening to the minister and Mr Wakoli talk at the sheikhs’ meeting, these guys are not serious contenders but are looking for recognition,” the source said.

However, others sources said the Muslim leaders gave Mr Wetang’ula a list of grievances which they wanted him to address before they could support his bid for the presidency.

The leaders are said to have petitioned the Foreign Affairs minister to ensure Muslims are not harassed when applying for identity cards, passports and other documents.

They also wanted the minister to ensure Muslims are accorded the same treatment as other Kenyans and not be viewed as terrorism suspects.

At Mombasa Women’s Hall where Prof Saitoti, accompanied by Transport minister Amos Kimunya and Trade minister Ali Mwakwere, met party supporters, things almost got out of hand over a split on the fate of the besieged Provincial Commissioner, Mr Ernest Munyi.

Mombasa branch youth leader Salim Hassan told Prof Saitoti they wanted Mr Munyi to leave the province, arguing that locals would not support PNU as long as the PC remains at the Coast.