Uhuru and Ruto return to Coast in fresh onslaught against CORD

Deputy President William Ruto

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto are planning another tour of the Coast, targeting three of the six counties in the region.

They will tour Kwale, Lamu and Kilifi in coming weeks in a renewed onslaught on the Opposition bastion. Jubilee officials believe the ruling coalition has made inroads and could capture the three counties’ governor posts in next year’s polls.

Legal adviser in the Deputy President’s office Anania Mwaboza, confirmed the visits, saying intensive campaigns to propagate Jubilee’s agenda for the region are being planned.

He said Ruto’s visit will precede Uhuru’s. The President is scheduled to open the Mombasa International Show that starts on August 24 and tour other parts of the region.

“The DP’s visit has been delayed by his brother’s death, but he will definitely come before the President arrives and will tour Kwale and Kilifi,” said Mr Mwaboza.

Since it came to power, Jubilee has sustained a charm offensive in Kwale and Kilifi. The two leaders combined have made up to 15 trips to the two counties since 2013.

CORD won the larger share of seats in Kilifi and Kwale, but many of its MPs have since shifted allegiance to Jubilee, which analysts see as evidence of the ruling coalition’s infiltration.

But Gikuyu Council of Elders Mombasa Chairman Waithaka Macharia raised fears that the turf wars in Jubilee could erode the gains achieved so far in the Coast.

“Factions in Jubilee in Mombasa should be addressed so that the coalition can fashion out a united onslaught against the Opposition and campaign for the President’s re-election,” said Macharia.

He believes Jubilee in Mombasa and the Coast lacks a central command and structure and this, according to him, points to Jubilee’s loss in the March 7 Malindi parliamentary by-election as proof of confusion within the ruling coalition in the Coast.

“Kenyan politics is dynamic. In Mombasa, there are many national government projects such as the construction of Kongowea market, which is 90 per cent complete, Airport Road 60 per cent and the Dongo Kundu Bypass, which is 50 per cent complete. I do believe that they will have an impact on the election,” Macharia said.

Political analysts say one cannot divorce politics and economic activities during the trips, as the country draws closer to the August 8, 2017 general election.

Kwale Woman Representative Zainab Chidzuga says the DP will hold several fund drives for women’s groups, table banking and schools.

“He (Ruto) is yet to confirm the date, but yes, he will tour Kwale to hold fund drives for women groups, school buses and other groups,” said Chidzuga, who also confirmed Uhuru’s upcoming visit.

Mwaboza said Ruto will arrive early “to prepare the way” for the President.

“Jubilee has made a lot of progress in the Coast, despite smear campaigns by the Opposition. Jubilee will continue to propagate its agenda in the Coast,” he said.

Mombasa governor contender Suleiman Shahbal said Jubilee is also focused to win Hassan Joho’s seat and has devised strategies to wrest power from CORD.

“We are ready and no matter what tactics my rivals, who have sensed defeat, want to use to cause distractions, we are focused on bringing change in Mombasa. We are unstoppable,” said Shahbal.

Other Jubilee officials at the Coast are convinced that the coalition can win Lamu, Kwale, Kilifi and Tana River counties.

In Lamu, Jubilee is banking on the high number of Kikuyu votes in Lamu West and its record in solving the perennial land problem.

In January this year, the National Land Commission (NLC) revoked title deeds for 353,770 acres of irregularly acquired land in Lamu and reverted it to the County Government.

The adjudication is currently underway in four main settlement schemes in the county and title deeds will be issued to the landless during the President’s visit next month.

“In Kiunga, Manda, Kitau and Swahili schemes, adjudication is ongoing and once complete very many families who have never owned land or seen a title deed will benefit,” said Alisha Bwana, the TNA Lamu county co-ordinator.

He said the President will also commission construction of Mijila-Lamu road and Manda Airport, launch a Huduma Centre and open the Faza, Mpeketoni and King Fahad health centres.

“The fact that most of the senior or influential candidates for the governor’s seat are declaring that they will vie on a Jubilee ticket tells you the mood of the voters,” said Bwana.

Businessman Swaleh Imo, former chairman of the defunct Lamu County Council Abdallah Fadhil and former Lamu West MP Fahim Twaha are all battling for the Jubilee ticket for governor’s post.

The incumbent, Issa Tamamy (UDF), has also said that he was ready to support Jubilee, but it is not clear whether he will join the ruling coalition.

In Kwale, Governor Salim Mvurya was recently forced to clarify his association with Jubilee and his absence from Cord activities, which many say has hurt ODM’s standing in the county.

Work with government

Already, Chidzuga and Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani have announced that they will work with the government.

“I want to make it clear that we have not defected to Jubilee. We are working with the government to deliver development to our people. But we also insist that after the next elections we will be in government,” said Chidzuga, a close confidant of Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro.

In Kilifi, Jubilee is backing Mung’aro to unseat Governor Amoson Kingi of ODM.

Mung’aro, who backed Jubilee candidate in the Malindi by-election, is a strong candidate and popular among the Mijikenda community and has been able to win over 17 MPs from CORD.

The Standard on Sunday has established that Mung’aro will on September 9 be installed by Kaya elders as the Mijikenda’s supreme leader before he hits the ground for the campaigns.