Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi asks Coast leaders to preach peace
From left: Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, Woman Rep Aisha Jumwa and Governor Amason Kingi during a press briefing in Kilifi Town on May 31, 2016. Governor Kingi called on leaders from the Coast to preach peace irrespective of their political affiliations. PHOTO | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Governor Kingi spoke shortly after Ms Jumwa recorded a statement with the DCI claiming her life was in danger.
- Ms Jumwa alleged that she had been threatened by Mr Waithaka over political statements she made at a public function.
- She claimed Mr Waithaka had accused her of disrespecting the President.
- Mr Waithaka dismissed the alleged threats, claiming he only condemned “use of disrespectful’’ language against the presidency.
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has called on leaders from the Coast to preach peace irrespective of their political affiliations.
Speaking to journalists at a press conference in the company of Woman Rep Aisha Jumwa and Senator Stewart Madzayo, Governor Kingi said Coast leaders had done a lot to preach peace and reconciliation in the cosmopolitan region.
The efforts, he said, included quelling the Mulungu Nipa uprising, Kaya Bombo and the Mombasa Republican Council, adding that these gains must not be allowed to be in vain through reckless talk by politicians for whatever reason.
“We will be treading on very dangerous ground if we allow reckless talk by anyone, irrespective of political affiliation,’’ said the governor.
Governor Kingi spoke shortly after Ms Jumwa recorded a statement at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) county headquarters on Monday evening, claiming her life was in danger.
THREAT ALLEGATIONS
In her statement, Ms Jumwa alleged that she had been threatened by Mombasa Jubilee politician Crispus Waithaka over political statements she made at a public function in Mombasa on Saturday.
She claimed Mr Waithaka, who said he was the chairman of the Gema community in the Coast, had accused her of disrespecting the President in her speech during the function hosted by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and addressed by Cord leader Raila Odinga.
“He spoke in a harsh tone and said they are closely monitoring me,” she claimed at the news conference.
But speaking to the Nation, Mr Waithaka dismissed the alleged threats, claiming he only condemned what he described as “use of disrespectful’’ language against the presidency.
“When I called her, the only thing I said was that it was her duty as an elected leader to show respect to the President,’’ Mr Waithaka claimed.
“I told her that as Gema community in the Coast, we were saddened by her remarks.
“I did not threaten her and she blew the issue out of proportion,” Mr Waithaka said.
