Coast scholars slam ‘economics without politics’ growth model

The coast region’s socio-economic landscape touted at a recent consultative meeting by its leaders may not come to pass unless it is combined with a political push to change the region’s fortunes.

Prof Rashid Mzee, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kisauni, says the leaders who met during the forum went against the grain to think they could achieve the one without the other.

“You cannot divorce politics from socio-economic issues if you want to address issues ailing the region,” he said.

In its 15-point resolution, the forum, which included six governors, three senators, 23 MPs and seven members of county assemblies, did not talk about politics, although the formation of a political party was alluded to in sideline interviews after the meeting.

This came out at a closed-door session when the Kadu-Asili deputy leader Dr Chibule wa Tsuma told the leaders not to “cheat” themselves by avoiding politics in their push for a unity.

“They did not invite me but I came here to tell them my mind. Coastal unity cannot happen by only focusing on the economic aspect,” he told the Sunday Nation after the meeting.

According to him this is the opportune moment for the leadership to honour the late Ronald Ngala’s “majimbo” ideology, which has only been half-heartedly implemented through the devolved system.

“Strong democracies throughout the world the US, India, South Africa and Nigeria are using the federal system to run the governments; Kenya should be no exception,” he said.

POLITICAL DIFFERENCES
Another leader, Umma University vice-chancellor Prof Shaukat Abdulrazak, in his presentation told the leaders their unification quest will remain a “mirage” until they overcome individual political differences.

He noted that race, ethnicity and attitudes merge in unpredictable ways with ideas about the influence of politics and the voting patterns in the elections.

“In the period leading up to the first multiparty elections in 1992, some areas of the country flared up in tribal conflict that was meant to influence voting patterns in the elections,” he said.

According to him some of the flash points then were areas in the coast which pitted people native to the region against those perceived to be outsiders.

He reminded the leaders of the infamous Kaya Bombo killings of 1997 and the uprising of the Mombasa Republican Council to propagate the coastal agenda.

ATTRACTING MASSES

In 1992, Kenya’s second-largest city, Mombasa, witnessed many street battles between the police and supporters of the Islamic Party of Kenya (IPK) which was trying to get their members elected to parliament on an Islamic platform.

“Do we need our party or can we influence our parties (ODM, Wiper, TNA or URP) and ultimately position ourselves in them?” he posed. Do we need a flag bearer who should be embraced by all the coastal leaders for the development of the region?”

He however warned that suspicion, mistrust and disunity could be used to stop the unification call by some of the leaders pursuing personal interests.

But in a separate interview, former Kenya Airport Authority deputy managing director Naomi Sidi argues that although the unification idea was welcome, none of the leaders attending the forum has the “magical ingredient” to attract masses.