Coast MPs lash out at ODM over plan to punish ‘rebels’

Coast leaders on Saturday criticised Orange Democratic Movement’s plans to punish two local legislators for backing Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.

The 19 legislators, led by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, said they were keenly following the move by the party to write to Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori and Malindi’s Aisha Jumwa to show cause why they should not be punished.

Addressing the media after a meeting at Sun and Sand Beach Hotel in Kikambala, Kilifi, the governor said ODM’s action on Mr Dori, the Coast Parliamentary Group chairman, and the vocal Ms Jumwa would interfere with the Building Bridges Initiative being spearheaded by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Nasa leader Raila Odinga.

DEVASTATING

“We are following keenly on the development. If ODM acts on the MPs, it will affect the building of bridges. We shall not take this one lightly,” Mr Kingi said.

“We don’t understand why, as we execute and embrace the Building Bridges Initiative, ODM has resorted to threatening our legislators.

“If this is pushed through by the party, then it will have a devastating effect on the initiative which we have embraced in this region,” the governor said.

The 19 legislators, from across the political divide, who attended the meeting include Mr Dori, Mr Paul Katana (Kaloleni), Ms Gertrude Mbeyu (Woman Rep, Kilifi), Mr William Kamoti (Rabai), Mr Ali Mbogo (Kisauni) and Mr Badi Twalib (Jomvu).

UNWELL

Also present were Mr Sharrif Alwy (Lamu East), Mr Stanley Muthama (Lamu West), Mr Johnes Mlolwa (Voi), Mr Ken Chonga (Kilifi South), Mr Kassim Tandaza (Matuga), Mr Benjamin Tayari (Kinango) and Ms Ruwaida Obbo (Lamu Woman Rep).

Also in attendance were Mr Danson Mwashako (Wundanyi), Mr Andrew Mwadime (Mwatate), Mr Ali Wario (Bura) and Mr Said Habaa (Galole).

Ms Jumwa did not attend the meeting as she was said to be unwell.

Governor Kingi said they were fully in support of the ‘handshake’.

SQUATTERS

“During the campaign and after the elections, we were a divided lot in this region; there was Jubilee and then there was Nasa.

“Now that Raila and Uhuru came together for the sake of the country’s unity, we followed suit,” he said.

Mr Kingi asked the two leaders (Raila and Uhuru) to make sure the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) report is implemented.

“The main problem we face at the Coast is land ownership and the never-ending squatter problem. While campaigning in the Opposition, our main aim was to make sure that the TJRC report is implemented.

DIFFERENCES

“Now that Uhuru and Raila have come together, this is the first bridge which needs to be built. We want all historical land injustices which have been well elaborated in the report to be implemented,” he said.

The leaders said their push for the Coast political unity is unstoppable and will next month start the journey of telling their people the importance of supporting the region’s unity efforts.

“We shall have a meeting with MCAs next month with the biggest agenda being how we shall push the Coast political unity agenda to our people. We know the MCAs can easily send this message to the people on the ground. We have now started and it will soon resonate,” Governor Kingi said.

FAILED TO ATTEND

The Kilifi county boss said all the other five governors had been invited to the meeting but failed to attend for various reasons.

Some MPs, who had also been invited, never showed up.

“All the governors  — Granton Samboja (Taita Taveta), Fahim Twaha (Lamu), Salim Mvurya (Kwale), Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Dhadho Godhana (Tana River) — are aware that we are meeting today, but could not attend.

“Mr Joho travelled to Milan, Italy, and the rest are occupied elsewhere. But they have told us they will adopt all the recommendations of this meeting,” he said.

WRANGLES

The leaders said political differences among local leaders have derailed the region’s economic agenda.

“We formed our Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) but it has failed to meet its goals because it has been marred by political differences. We have discussed this issue at length and resolved to revive JKP to turn it into an economic pillar of this region.

“There are many investors who want to do business here and empower our people but they could not because of the persistent political wrangles. Today that has ended and we are opening a new chapter as far as KJP is concerned,” he said.