Leaders drop push for Coast party
Leaders from Mombasa County who were part of the Coast meeting at Swahili Beach Hotel in Diani, South Coast, on November 16, 2014. Coast leaders Sunday said they would form a union of the region’s six counties to determine its political and economic destiny and end decades of dominance by other regions. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA |
What you need to know:
- Matuga MP Hassan Mwanyoha, Msambweni MP Khatib Mwashetani and Kaloleni MP Gunga Mwinga’s call for the agenda of forming a political party was defeated by the overwhelming opposition from 18 other MPs, five governors, four woman representatives and three senators.
- Mr Kingi said it was premature to discuss the formation of a new party “since we are being guided by the Political Parties Act which does not allow us to discuss other parties when we are still members of political parties”.
Coast leaders Sunday abandoned the push for a regional political party, even as they resolved to form a union of six counties to end years of dominance in the region.
Except for three MPs, the leaders decided to avoid the issue of forming a Coast-based party, saying such a move was premature.
Matuga MP Hassan Mwanyoha, Msambweni MP Khatib Mwashetani and Kaloleni MP Gunga Mwinga’s call for the agenda of forming a political party was defeated by the overwhelming opposition from 18 other MPs, five governors, four woman representatives and three senators.
“The idea behind this forum is not to form a political party. This agenda could come in later forums. For now, we want to discuss pertinent issues affecting the Coast such as land, economy, employment, resources and opportunities brought about by devolution,” said Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, who chaired the two-day meeting which began Sunday.
The meeting was touted as the forum to map the region’s political direction.
The forum at Swahili Beach Hotel in the South Coast was dominated by issues of land, employment, security and management of resources.
The leaders resolved to form a union of the six counties to determine the region’s destiny in controlling its economy, politics and society, and end years of dominance from other regions.
OWN POLITICAL GOALS
The leaders, who included Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu, senators Hassan Omar (Mombasa), Mohamed Bule (Tana River), Abu Chiaba (Lamu), Governor Amason Kingi (Kilifi), woman representatives Asha Jumwa (Kilifi), Mishi Juma Mboko (Mombasa), Joyce Ley (Taita-Taveta) and Shakila Abdalla (Lamu), and 21 MPs from Mombasa, Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Kilifi and Lamu, suggested that the forum be made an annual event.
Ms Abdalla, however, expressed fears that the forum could be used by a few individuals in pursuit of their own political goals.
“I am in total support of this meeting and the ideas. But I hope that our agenda is for the people of Coast. Our unity should serve all people but if some people have their own agenda, we shall not reach far,” she said.
She noted that the ongoing curfew in Lamu, which has heavily affected the county’s economy, “has been left only to Lamu leaders to battle as if there are no other leaders in Coast”.
PREMATURE
Mr Kingi said it was premature to discuss the formation of a new party “since we are being guided by the Political Parties Act which does not allow us to discuss other parties when we are still members of political parties”.
He said the most pressing issues in Coast were its unity of purpose, opportunities brought about by devolution and investment such as the standard gauge railway, the Lapsset project, minerals, gas, tourism and employment.
“We have to see how Coast will position itself in the face of these huge opportunities coming up. We have to focus on real issues and harness these opportunities for the benefit of our people,” he said.
Coast Parliamentary Group chairman Gideon Mung’aro, Tana River Governor Hussein Dado and MPs from Tana River did not attend the meeting. Mr Kingi said they had sent their apologies.
