Mung’aro takes Joho head on during Kilifi campaigns

The March 7 Malindi by-election campaign produced fireworks on Monday with Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro exchanging brickbats.

Mr Joho defended Orange Democratic Movement’s record against accusations that the party had done nothing for the Coast people despite being voted for overwhelmingly in 2013.

Mr Mung’aro, an ODM lawmaker now leading the Jubilee assault in Coast challenged Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi (ODM) to show what his government had done with Sh21 billion it received from the government.

During a campaign rally for ODM candidate Willy Mtengo on Sunday, Mr Joho said the party could not be accused of doing nothing as it was in the opposition.

“If you ask what the ODM governor has done with Sh21 billion, we will also ask you what the Jubilee government did with Sh4 trillion. If Treasury gave Kilifi Sh21 billion, it should be remembered that it remained with Sh4 trillion,” Mr Joho said.

During the rally, Kilifi Woman Rep Aisha Jumwa challenged Mr Mung’aro to officially ditch ODM “instead of asking us to vote Jubilee when he is in ODM”.

In a rejoinder on Monday, Mr Mung’aro said he was supporting Jubilee candidate Mr Philip Charo because Mombasa politicians “undermined me as ODM chief whip which made me be thrown from the party like a dog”.

WANTED OWN CHIEF WHIP

“Mombasa politicians wanted their own to be chief whip. They should not poke their nose in Malindi affairs. I am here to campaign for Charo and if they want to dismiss me from ODM, we will meet in court”, he said.

The Kilifi North MP who has declared interest in the governor’s seat, said he did not understand why he was the main agenda in ODM meetings.

“Why can’t they concentrate on campaigning for their candidate? Why do they always mention my name in their rallies?” he asked.

Temperatures over the March 7 by-election billed to be a litmus test for ODM have been soaring with the opposition and Jubilee promising much to capture the seat.

The seat fell vacant following the nomination area MP Dan Kazungu to the cabinet.

The election of Mr Kazungu in 2013 was greatly attributed to Mr Mung’aro, a former MP of the constituency before he moved to Kilifi North.

President Kenyatta made forays into the area recently by launching several multi-billion shilling projects, including tarmacking of Sala-gate Road leading to Tsavo East National Park.

Meanwhile, an outfit calling itself Umoja Movement Organisation on Monday warned of a big win by one of the country’s two main coalitions should Coast-based parties fail to agree on a single candidate in the by-election.

Jubilee and Cord are jostling for the seat which pundits say could be a pointer to the outcome of the 2017 elections at the Coast.

UMO Chairman Chenje Mwachiro said it was unfortunate that even after consultations with elders from Malindi District Cultural Association and party leaders, nothing had been agreed on.

SOLE CANDIDATE

Prof Chenje said the decision by the parties to pick candidates indicated that unifying the region before the next elections would almost be impossible.

 “We decided to field Shirikisho Party’s David Mangi as the sole candidate. That never happened and as of now Kadu-Asili, Shirikisho and Federal Party of Kenya have candidates,” he said.

On Sunday Shirikisho’s David Mangi was endorsed by nine Miji Kenda kaya elders from Kwale and Kilifi counties. The event took place at Madica centre, Malindi.
According to the association’s Secretary-General Joseph Karisa Mwarandu, the elders had no option but to bless those contesting the seat “ since they are all sons of Kilifi”.

Those who have nominated by to vie for the seat at the moment are Mr Philip Charo (Jubilee), Mr Willy Mtengo (ODM), Mr Yusuf Abubakar (Shirikisho Party), Mr Reuben Katana Mwamure (Kadu-Asili), Mr David Mangi (Shirikisho Party) and Mr Ahmed Mohamed (Independent).