Kwale MPs defend State House visit amid protests from clerics

Lungalunga MP Khatib Mwashetani was among those who went to State House. [PHOTO: STANDARD]

KWALE COUNTY: Two MPs from Kwale who are among the leaders who visited State House last week have come out to defend their move, a day after some Muslim clerics and leaders gave them 14 days to apologise.

In separate interviews, Women representative Zainab Chidzuga and Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori explained why they went for the trip.

"The President called us to apologise because he missed Iftar due to his busy schedule," said Dori.

Dori said the event gave them the much needed opportunity to present the list of projects they want completed by the National Government. The Msambweni lawmaker, who claimed that his stand in ODM was not questionable, said the expansion of Ukunda airstrip and compensation of families will start before December.

"My support for ODM is 100 per cent and I have no intention whatsoever of moving out but our people should differentiate between politics and development," Dori said.

Chidzuga said they will not ask for any forgiveness because they went to State House to push for the completion of projects.

"No one is against anybody visiting State House and we are not the first ones. Those people should have asked what we went for before lashing at us," said Chidzuga, adding that some clerics were angry because they were not invited for the Iftar that was to be presided over by the President.

Other leaders who accompanied the two were Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, Senator Boy Juma Boy, MPs Khatib Mwashetani (Lungalunga), Hassan Mwanyoha (Matuga) and Gonzi Rai (Kinango).

On Monday, Muslim leaders and politicians from Kwale County vowed to support the opposition's call for a referendum.

HISTORICAL INJUSTICES

Speaking at the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) offices in Diani, the leaders said the referendum will address some of the challenges facing devolution and historical injustices.

"Those who went to Nairobi did so at their own individual capacity. As Kwale people we are fully behind the referendum and we are ready to collect more than enough signatures for that course," said Kwale Assembly Majority Leader Nassoro Mguta.

CIPK South Coast chairman Sheikh Hamis Banda said a referendum is on the right path, adding that those who do not know the work of an opposition should read the Constitution carefully.

Banda said those who went to State House should come clean and tell the people what they went to do.

"We are giving them 14 days to apologise to the people of Kwale or to kiss goodbye any electoral seats," Banda warned.

Kwale ODM Secretary Omar Boga said CORD politicians who are dining with Jubilee were actually engaging in business which is gained individually.

"The leaders are just party hopping with the Government of the day on pretext of development but lack any ideology," Boga said.