Coast leaders' new plan to unite region

Coast politicians yesterday clashed over the proposal for the formation of a regional political party to push for the region's agenda at the national level.

Sharp differences played out at the Coast Political Leaders Consultative Meeting, with supporters of the idea insisting the party was essential in the push for the Coast agenda. However, opponents dismissed the proposal as a red herring and an act of backwardness.

The forum brought together experts, professionals and elected leaders to discuss devolution, economic development and other issues affecting the region. Rivals and political allies met under one roof but Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro, who spearheaded the proposal as well the rebellion in his ODM party, stayed away.

Mr Mung'aro, six other MPs and two senators did not attend but were said to have sent apologies.

It emerged that those opposed to the party had crafted a new strategy to bring the region's political leaders together under the leadership of one person in what appeared to favour Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho.

The leaders announced the formation of the Commonwealth of the Coast Counties, with a committee that will spearhead the region's unity and economic development agenda.

The committee membership the leaders agree on will comprise Mr Joho, Governor Salim Mvurya (Kwale), Senator Abu Chaiba (Lamu) and Senator Abdi Bule (Tana River). Other members are Joyce Lay and Aisha Jumwa, women representatives of Taita Taveta and Kilifi counties respectively

Earlier, Mr Mvurya had ruled out deliberation over the formation of a political party, which elicited sharp reactions from proponents of the idea who insisted that the move would help to push the Coast agenda.

Other resolutions reached in the one-day meeting included the establishment of Pwani Investment Bank and Coast Tourism Development Board financed to market the tourism sector in the region.

They will also support the implementation of a county innovation economic transformation institute that is being established by three universities in the region.

"We cannot talk about Coast political unity without a vessel to enable us negotiate with other regions," said Lamu East MP Shariff Athuman.

 

SELFISH AMBITIONS

Those who supported the formation of the party included Gunga Mwinga, Hassan Mwanyoa, Khatib Mwashetani and Mustafa Idd.

Others expressed fears that the meeting would be hijacked by those keen to use it for their selfish political ambitions like the fight for the current political party's leadership.

"My fear is that there are those with mischievous agenda who want to use the forum to advance their own political agenda," said Lamu County MP Shakila Abdalla. All the six governors from the region, three senators and some MPs attended the meeting that was held at Swahili Beach in Diani, Kwale County.

"We want to come up with a strategy that is different from the past. That strategy should have one person who will lead the rest of us because we cannot all be leaders," said Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi in an interview with The Standard.

He said the leaders discussed issues affecting the whole region such as land, insecurity and the slump in tourism; afterwards, they would identify problems that cut across the six counties and then move across the region to popularise their unity.

Governor Joho said secretariats would be opened in all the six counties in the region to drive the Coast agenda and engage locals.

"We need to come up with a way to galvanise the region to come together. It is a political transformation that needs to benefit the people of the Coast, not individual politicians. That is why we are discussing, so we can come up with the purpose of that unity," said Joho.

The leaders also discussed the establishment of a regional financial institution that would give loans to traders at low interests rates to spur the economy.