The Mombasa County leadership joined the rest of the world in paying tribute to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's son Fidel by pledging to name a street after him.
Governor Hassan Joho said the move is a way of showing respect to Fidel, whom he eulogised as having a vision for the country.
Mr Joho, who spoke in Bondo during the final mass before the burial, said Fidel was a man who was a symbol of unity in the country, given his wide spectrum of friends.
"The people of Mombasa have decided to show our respect to Fidel, and the family of Jaramogi by naming a street after him," said Joho.
Although the Jubilee government has made inroads in the coastal region, Joho and Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar took the opportunity to assure Raila that the coastal region was fully behind him ahead of the 2017 General Election.
The coastal region was represented by nominated Senator Dr Agnes Zani, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, Kilifi's Amason Kingi and Taita Taveta's John Mruttu.
Fidel's friendliness
Omar described Fidel as a friend of the Coast people. He asked Raila's supporters to apply for national identity and voters cards in large numbers in preparation for the coming elections.
Since his death on Monday, Fidel has been eulogised as a man whose friendship surpassed political, age and tribal lines.
Other Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders who recognised this attribute in their speeches called on former colleagues who left the coalition to return and help Raila secure the 2017 presidential seat.
ODM Chairman John Mbadi and Secretary General Ababu Namwamba said the CORD family needed to rethink and come together in respect to the fallen hero so as to achieve coalition ambitions, which is the presidency.
Mr Namwamba noted that since Fidel was valued a lot by his father Raila, the CORD leadership ought to unite and 'wipe away' Raila's tears, by giving him victory in the 2017 presidential election.
"Let us proclaim unity as CORD family if we want to reach our ambition, come 2017," said Namwamba.
Opposition unity
Mbadi who spoke to a charged crowd reiterated that Raila's ambitions of leading the country are still alive, and only needed the consolidated support of the coalition members.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
He said Fidel's death awaken a series of tribulations, which has faced the CORD leader, and should act as the vantage point to push him into the 2017 presidential success.
"We know our focus is 2017, and we will triumph. Let us come together so that we can achieve this. We will work together as a team, and not allow spoilers in," said Mr Mbadi.
His statements were also echoed by Raila's brother Oburu Oginga, who challenged Nyanza people to unite before focusing on people from other parts of the country.
"Raila is still strong. We are ready to move ahead as one people," said Oburu.
Ford Kenya Secretary General Dr Eseli Simiyu and Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadegu called on leaders from Western and Coast regions to stand together behind Raila.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join