Kingi: Mwinga best choice to lead Coast MPs

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi (right) consults with County Secretary Owen Baya before signing into law three Bills on March 18, 2016. He has praised Mr Gunga Mwinga's election as CPG boss, saying the Kaloleni MP has the capacity to deliver on the dreams of Coast people. PHOTOS | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho spearheaded the successful ODM campaigns for the seat won by Mr William Mtengo while Mr Mung’aro and other Cord rebels campaigned for Jubilee’s Phillip Charo.
  • Mr Abdulswamad Shariff (Mvita) is organising secretary with Mr Suleiman Dori (Msambweni) his deputy and Ms Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi Woman Rep) the Whip.

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has welcomed the removal of ODM rebel MP Gideon Mung’aro and his team as chairman and officials of the Coast Parliamentary Group, respectively, saying it was long overdue.

He praised Mr Gunga Mwinga's election as CPG boss, saying the Kaloleni MP has the capacity to deliver on the dreams of Coast people, which Mr Mung’aro’s group did not.

“For the past three years, the Coast Parliamentary Group has not been able to bring together the leadership of the Coast region,’’ Mr Kingi said. “That has weighed heavily on the development prospects of the region.

“I believe in Mr Mwinga as an able leader who will deliver.”

Mr Kingi spoke to journalists in his office after signing into law three Bills passed by the County Assembly.

“The team that was there did not work for the interest of the Coast people, and we are happy to usher in a new era that brings in new people to spearhead leadership of the region,” said the county boss, dismissing speculation that the changes were a result of the Malindi by-election results.

Mr Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho spearheaded the successful ODM campaigns for the seat won by Mr William Mtengo while Mr Mung’aro and other Cord rebels campaigned for Jubilee’s Phillip Charo.

The Kilifi North MP has since dismissed the elections as a sham and announced he would lead a splinter group.

On Friday, Mr Mwinga defended his election as CPG leader, saying it was planned way before the by-election.

“We did not get money from anyone,” said Mr Mwinga. “In fact, the plan for the election was mooted before the Malindi by-election and before Mr Dan Kazungu was made Mining Cabinet Secretary.

“Every member, including Mr Mung’aro, was notified about the election.”

UNITING LEADERS
According to Mr Mwinga, the Mung’aro group would join his team in a fortnight.

Speaking to the Nation over the telephone, Mr Mwinga said his team, which was elected by 19 of the 33 MPs from the region, has started work “with a bang’’ by holding an eight-hour meeting with the National Land Commission to discuss land issues in the Coast.

“We began with a bang,” said Mr Mwinga. “We spent eight hours at the National Land Commission deliberating on the Community Land Bill and National Land Bill, which we want to discuss in Parliament.

“I wrote to the Parliamentary Lands Committee, which had to adjourn its sitting to wait for our input.”

Mr Mwinga said his main agenda will be to unite Coast leaders “who are so seriously divided now, especially after the Malindi by-election”.

He added: “My clarion call is for all of us to join hands under CPG.

“I’m sure after the dust settles in about two weeks, Mr Mung’aro and his group will join us. There is no bad blood between us and whosoever refuses to join us is enemy number one of the Coast and will be doing it for personal benefit.”

The new line-up has Mr Jones Mlolwa of Voi as secretary-general, replacing Mr Khatibu Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga), Ms Shakila Abdallah (Lamu Woman Rep) as vice-chairperson, Ms Mishi Mboko (Mombasa Woman Rep) as deputy SG and Ms Zuleikha Hassan (nominated) as treasurer.

Mr Abdulswamad Shariff (Mvita) is organising secretary with Mr Suleiman Dori (Msambweni) his deputy and Ms Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi Woman Rep) the Whip.

National Assembly Deputy Minority Whip Thomas Mwadeghu, Ms Halima Ware (Tana River Woman Rep) and Mr Hassan Mwanyoha (Matuga) are the caucus’s senior advisors.

Garsen MP Ibrahim Sane dismissed the changes, insisting that Mr Mung’aro remains the head of the group.