Vision key factor as only woman takes on six men for Kilifi North seat

The race for the Kilifi North constituency seat has attracted seven aspirants.

They are former County Secretary Owen Baya, who has expressed interest to run on ODM party ticket, Lawrence Kilabo and Esther Kache, both of the Jubilee party.

Others are Pascal Maitha (Kadu-Asili), Eliud Kalama (Wiper), Edward Mwamuye (Amani National Congress (ANC) and Anthony Kingi, who has yet to disclose his preferred political party.

Kilifi North was hived off from the former Bahari Constituency. It has a population of 207,587, according to the 2009 census.

It has seven wards including Sokoni, Tezo, Matsangoni, Dabaso, Watamu, Kibarani and Mnarani.

The incumbent Gideon Mung’aro will not defend his seat. He has already set his sights on the County’s gubernatorial position currently being held by ODM’s Amason Kingi.

The constituency, though strategically located and home to world class hotels is plagued by massive unemployment, especially in the tourism sector, which is virtually on its knees due to poor marketing strategies, terrorism and rise in cases of insecurity.

Land disputes, occasioned by the on-and-off invasion of privately owned land, are common.

The National Land Commission is yet to fully address the problem.

MORE PLEDGES
The aspirants have, however, promised to bring change and end the people’s suffering by implementing various projects.

Mr Mung’aro says he has set the bar so high that the incoming MP will have to work extra hard to achieve or surpass it.

“I have improved infrastructure in several schools by building 93 primary and secondary schools, laboratories as well as refurbishing others. I have also built several police stations and posts,” he said.

He adds: “I have also initiated water projects among other projects. The bar has already been set so high for the incoming MP.”

The aspirants, however, say they are equal to the task and will perform much better that the outgoing MP.

Mr Baya, for instance, says he will revive farming in the constituency by introducing modern farming methods.

“The way our people farm and cultivate their shambas will change. I will introduce modern farming techniques and encourage them to venture more in agriculture,” he says.

Mr Baya promises to revive cashew nut farming in the region as well as scout for markets for the produce.

Another aspirant, Pascal Maitha, says his main agenda will be to tackle marginalisation of women and youth.

This, he explains, will be done by creating and enabling environment that will encourage them to be involved in income generating activities.

Mr Maitha says if elected, his administration will set aside 34 per cent of its Constituency Development Fund to improve not only the region’s infrastructure but also construct and rehabilitate learning institutions.

This will help improve dwindling education standards.

The former Vision 2030 Board member says the constituency gets almost Sh140 million annually, but because of skewed allocation, many development programs have collapsed.

“This will be a thing of the past under my leadership,” he says.

FARMING SECTOR
Mr Eliud Kalama, another aspirant, shares similar sentiments.

“I threw my hat in the ring because of lack of proper leadership. I will help transform the constituency and make it the county’s bread basket,” he goes on.

The aspirant has also pledged to introduce better farming techniques that have worked wonders in countries like India.

“One needs to ask himself the fate of the once vibrant cashew nut farming. How did it collapse and is there any goodwill and efforts to revive it? What about the coconut industry?” he wonders.

“In order to empower the people, you must engage them. This, however, does not happen in the constituency. Most of the time, locals only see projects being implemented. I want to change this system of governance,” he says.

The only woman aspirant Esther Kache promises to rebuild the ailing infrastructure in the constituency.

“Most roads in Kilifi North are not in good shape. We only have one market, which cannot cope with the rising demands. My vision is to build a modern market in Mnarani,” she said.

Mr Kilabo said he will create employment and fight marginalisation.

“If you look at the land issues, no solution seem to be in sight. I have fought several court battles together with the squatters and this time if I become their MP, I will be in a better position to address land issues,” said Mr Kilabo.

Mr Mwamuye says failed leadership drove him to vie.

“If you look at Watamu, which is among the best tourist destinations in the world, one wonders why the locals living near the luxurious hotels are wallowing in abject poverty and frustrations. The reason to this is poor policies that have chased away tourists who used to flock to our beaches. This will all change under my leadership,” he said.

NOMINATIONS
Mr Kingi, says he threw his hat in the ring “due to public demand.”

“Even though I vied for the governorship position in 2013, Kilifi North residents have been piling pressure asking me to represent them in Parliament. I said why not,” he says.

“At the moment, I don’t have any party but the same people who endorsed me for the seat will give direction on which party I will use to go for the seat,” he said.

Mr Baya is fighting to maintain the dominance of the party in the constituency after Mr Mung’aro, who won on ODM ticket in the 2013 General Election, fell out with ODM leader Raila Odinga.

“Kilifi North is still an ODM zone and it is only Mr Mung’aro who left, but the people have not abandoned its ideologies and their love for the party,” he said.

Mr Kalama - who was in ODM before joining Wiper - said the people will only be interested in one’s performance, not political party affiliation.

“The electorates have grown of age and would like to see a development oriented leader,” said Mr Kalama.

His sentiments were echoed by Mr Maitha, who says: “Contrary to what many people believe, other than Jubilee and ODM, Kadu Asili might give the two major parties a run for their money.”

Mr Mwamuye, who hosted ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi in the constituency recently, says people will vote based on individual manifestos and visions and not parties.

Jubilee will have to settle on one between Mr Kilabo and Ms Kache. The two are close associates of Mr Mung’aro.

“Whoever wins in the nominations, we shall support him or her,” said Ms Kache in an interview.