Coast-based parties name their torch bearers for Malindi race

Coastal political parties have named their candidates for the March 7 Malindi by-election, complicating the game plans for both the Jubilee Alliance Party and ODM.

Sunday, Shirikisho Party of Kenya unveiled its candidate, Mr David Mangi, who was endorsed by the nine Mijikenda Kaya elders from Kilifi and Kwale counties at a ceremony organised by the Malindi District Cultural Association.

According to the association’s Secretary-General, Mr Joseph Mwarandu, the elders also blessed the Kadu-Asili candidate, Mr Reuben Katana.

“We have no option but to let everyone try his luck. They are all our sons but when we tried to have them agree on a single candidate and they disagreed,” he said.

The Kadu-Asili party leader, Mr Gunga Mwinga, also the Kaloleni MP, campaigned for his party’s candidate with rallies at Kakuyuni, Mkaa Moto and Malindi central wards.

At Kakuyuni, he told voters not to be swayed by the big parties’ euphoria but instead vote for a candidate of integrity and one who will provide solutions to their problems.

“We have come here with a party that has the regional roots. Our symbol is palm tree,” he told one of the rallies.

The Federal Party of Kenya’s campaigns for its candidate, Mr Yusuf Aboubakar, is expected to start this week.

Sunday, a loser in the ODM nominations, Mr Ahmed Mohamed Ali, defected from the party to run as an independent candidate.

He told the Nation that last Tuesday’s “boardroom announcement” of the ODM candidate in Nairobi forced him to vie as an independent .

“How can you blame the IEBC for flawed elections when your own nominations are riddled with malpractice and discrimination on basis of religion, tribe, race and gender?” he asked, criticising the method that the Opposition party used to select its candidate. Mr Ali promised to give his former party a run for its money.

Already, Mr Ali has started gathering 500 signatures to be forwarded to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission before the February 8 nomination deadline.

DEVELOPMENT

Over the weekend, a section of Opposition Coast politicians accused the Jubilee government of starving opposition strongholds of development.

Led by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, they asked President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, Mr William Ruto, to run the country as stipulated in the Constitution of Kenya.

Speaking at Langobaya in Malindi, the governor said the President was blackmailing Malindi residents to vote for Jubilee in the March 7 by-election.

“What type of leadership is it that says we will not develop your place since you did not vote for us?” he asked.

Reported by Mwakera Mwajefa, Samuel Kazungu and Charles Lwanga.