Samboja to head economic bloc in new power line up

Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja (second right) welcomes (from left) Governors Dhadho Godhana (Tana River), Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Amason Kingi (Kilifi) to his Mwakishimba home for a meeting. [Renson Mnywamwezi, Standard]

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya was yesterday stripped of the chairmanship of Coast economic bloc, Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP), as the rift between him and his counterparts widens.

Mvurya, who is an ally of Deputy President William Ruto, was replaced by Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja, an ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Governors Samboja, Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Dhadho Godhana (Tana River) and Fahim Twaha (Lamu) declared that Coast will field a presidential candidate during a meeting in Mwakishimba village, Taita-Taveta County, yesterday. 

Mvurya, who has headed the economic bloc since it was launched in 2015, has a frosty relationship with Joho.

Samboja, who has been elected to serve for a period of two years, said his agenda is to unite the Coast counties to foster development. The five governors also resolved to hold joint rallies to popularise the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) at the Coast. The rallies will start on February 20 to 22 in Tana River and Lamu counties respectively.

“I sincerely thank the governors for electing me chairman of Jumuiya Ya Kaunti Za Pwani. Our agenda is to bring the counties together to speed up development,” the Taita Taveta Governor said.

Samboja, who spoke on behalf of the governors, disclosed that they agreed to support one of their own to contest the presidency.

“It is time for those we have supported for a long time for the presidency to return favour and support us,” he said.

He said they want Coast to be represented at the highest decision-making table when politics and development are discussed.

“As governors we have unanimously agreed that we will no longer be on the menu but at the table when politics and development decisions are made. We will lead our people from the front. It is time for those we have supported for a long time to return favour and support us,” he said. 

The governors and their aides landed in a helicopter at Ikanga airstrip in Voi town and went straight to Mwakishimba for a closed-door meeting which took eight hours.

Rally behind us

Samboja reiterated that Coast residents and leaders will no longer play second fiddle in national politics.

“This time round we will be where the bread will be buttered and we will not play second fiddle in national politics again. We will be at the negotiating table and we will lead our people from the front,” he said.

“We are asking other communities we have been supporting for many years to now rally behind us for the presidency seat,” he added.

Samboja announced that they will hold another meeting in a week’s time.

Governors who have declared interest in the presidency are Joho and Kingi.

Sources said the issue of Coast political party featured at the meeting.

The Taita Taveta governor revealed that they have reached out to their Kwale counterpart to can join their political bandwagon. “We are confident that he will also join us in our meeting,” he said.

Samboja said the meeting is all about the unity of the coastal people and BBI.

“This is not the first time when are meeting. We have been discussing the need to unite residents ahead of the next General Election. There is time when one will not be in leadership position but the most important thing is about unity and bringing the people together,” he stated.

He urged leaders to end their political differences for the sake of unity of the people.

“Other communities like Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, Kalenjin and Kamba have been meeting and speaking in one voice. I am happy to inform you that we have started the journey and we are now united and strong,” stated the governor.

The governor further revealed that they will hold a series of consultative meetings with Coast senators, women representatives and MCAs.

“We will reach out to other elected and non-elected leaders in the region to bring everybody on board,” he said.

He further said they will print copies of the BBI and distribute to locals.

Samboja who was elected on Wiper party ticket in the last General Election is now among Raila’s point men in Coast.