Coast leaders meet in search of elusive unity

Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho, Kenya Roads Borad chairperson Aisha Jumwa and Likoni MP Mishi Mboko during Jumwa's homecoming party at Msabaha grounds in Ganda ward, Malindi constituency, Kilifi County on Sunday, January, 2, 2025. Coastal leaders have thrown their weight behind Joho framing him as the new coastal political kingpin. [Nehemiah Okwembah, Standard]. All political leaders from six coastal counties are gearing up for crucial meeting in Mombasa to reconcile and chart the region's political course ahead of the 2027 General Elections. Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho said he will lead renewed efforts to unite Coast leaders in developing an effective strategy for the 2027 elections. Joho said it was time for the region to unite to come up with solutions to the Coast's long-term political problems and rescue its people from years of political bondage. He said that he has organised a meeting with all elected and non-elected leaders from the six coastal counties next week in Mombasa to chart the future of the region's political course. "Next week we will congregate in Mombasa as Coast leaders, where everyone will be allowed to air grievances, forgive each other, and forge a united," he said. Joho spoke at Msabaha Grounds in Malindi Sub County, Kilifi County, during the thanksgiving ceremony of the new Kenya Roads Board chairperson, Aisha Jumwa. At the function, the rift in Kilifi political leadership was evident after most leaders, including Governor Gideon Munga'ro and Senator Stewarts Madzayo, were conspicuously absent. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, six of the seven county MPs, Women Rep Getrude Mbeyu, and Members of the County Assembly (MCA) also gave the event a wide berth. It was, however, graced by CS Joho and his sports counterpart Salim Mvurya, United Democratic Alliance Party (UDA) Secretary General (SG) Hassan Omar, and Lamu Governor Issah Timmamy. Others present were Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, Garsen MP Ali Wario, his Likoni counterpart Mishi Mboko, John Bwire of Taveta, and Mohamed Machele of Mombasa. "I have in my political life been telling our people that we must unite politically if we have to be heard in the national political space, but the efforts have been futile in the past, and this time round, we must walk in one direction because we also want to lead this nation," said Joho. He cautioned leaders not to derail the unity agenda by trying to block him from having meetings with local leaders amid constant wrangles, especially in the six coastal counties. "Let no one try to make me hate or despise anyone like others have been trying to do lately because your enemy can't be my enemy and my enemy can't be your enemy even if we force things," he said. Ms. Jumwa became a strong critic of Mung'aro after she was sacked as CS of Gender, castigating the governor's development agenda. She has formed a movement to challenge him in the 2027 polls. Mung'aro, on his part, avoided a direct confrontation with Jumwa and has been at the forefront in asking President Ruto to give her a job in the national government. During the event, Jumwa said all coast leaders must listen to Joho who she described as the new kingpin, and dared anyone with a contrary opinion to come out and oppose the resolutions. "I have heard that some people are making formations to oust Ruto and that they will come here for our votes, but we are walking with Joho, and I am telling them that the coast is locked," he said. Meanwhile, Hassan Omar hit out at CS Justin Muturi for trying to fight the government from within and dared him to resign if he was not comfortable working with the Kenya Kwanza administration. "I want to tell my friend Muturi to either work with the government or ship out because we know he is lamenting about his son being abducted, but we know he was arrested for other offences that we cannot reveal in public. He is now looking for a reason to be sacked so that he can seek sympathy from it," he said. On working with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, Omar said that UDA will continue cooperating with their newfound friends in government at the national level but will support Jumwa if she declares she wants to vie as governor of Kilifi. "We will continue working with ODM at the national level, but we will support Jumwa for governor if she wants to vie, and as a party and as an individual, I will support her ambitions. I'm the mouthpiece of UDA, and it will remain so," he said.

Coast leaders meet in search of elusive unity

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