MPs want governors to lead region's 2022 political path

From left: Governors Amason Kingi (Kilifi), John Mruttu (Taita), Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Salim Mvurya (Kwale) and Hussein Dado (Tana). [File]

Mombasa elected leaders want governors to unite and give the region the political roadmap ahead of 2022 general election.

Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo and his Likoni counterpart Ms Mishi Mboko said governors Hassan Joho of Mombasa, Amason Kingi (Kilifi) and Kwale’s Salim Mvurya who are serving their second terms are better placed to guide the region to statehouse.

Mombasa senator Mohamed Faki claimed the Jubilee administration had marginalised the Coast region in Government positions and challenged it to reverse the trend.

The leaders spoke at the Tononoka grounds in Mombasa county during the Madaraka day celebrations on Saturday.

The leaders told the governors to come up with the clear way forward as the country stares at a possible constitutional referendum.

Mr Mbogo told the three governors to put aside their political differences so the residents can end the narrative of being marginalised by Government.

“The three governors are in their final terms and should agree on what direction the region should take. If they remain indecisive, they themselves are bound to fail in their future plans,” Mbogo said.

Mr Mbogo noted that now that the unity of the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG) was wasting away, the three senior politicians should agree to work together to stem marginalisation of the region.

Ms Mboko echoed the remarks, but noted that governor Joho had already made in-roads into the country’s politics and urged governors Kingi and Mvurya to consider backing his presidential bid.

“Joho has visited many parts of country and has made a mark in politics and I urge others with presidential ambition like him to kindly back him for the sake of this region's unity. Coast has many tribes and it is not right to always talk of the Mijikenda dominance,” Mboko said.

Like governor Joho, Kingi has since expressed interest in the presidency come 2022.

The two governors are in ODM and formerly very close allies.

On the other hand governor Mvurya, sharply differed with Mr Joho since he defected from ODM to Jubilee on whose ticket he vied for his second term.

Mr Faki claimed Coast was still getting a raw deal as Jubilee government sidelined them in Cabinet, ambassadorial and board positions in favour of other regions.

“The region has only Mr Najib Balala as Cabinet Secretary and few are in government positions,” Faki said.

He at the same time urged members of the National Assembly to change their hard line stance and endorse a decision by Senate to increase budgetary allocated to the counties.

He argued that the increase from Sh310 billion in the last financial year to Sh335 billion in the next financial year would ensure counties run effectively.

“The needs of the counties have increased and even the national government has increased its own budget this year. We therefore urge members of the national assembly to endorse the Senate proposed allocations for counties,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ms Mboko has called on Government to carry out mass counselling of members of the disciplined forces including Kenya Defence Forces soldiers who return from the African Mission on Somalia (Amisom).

She said the exercise would address rising cases of gender-based violence involving them.  

The MP said police and KDF officers have been involved in violent encounters and need urgent counselling to address the worrying trend.

“Government should address the gender-based violence involving disciplined officers through counselling" she said.