Imams warn against regional political party

By TOBIAS CHANJI

KWALE COUNTY: The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) South Coast branch has warned parliamentarians from the region against agitating for a coast-based political party.

The Imams told off the politicians and warned that if they persist in their crusade, they will not be voted back come 2017.

Speaking to The Standard in Diani, CIPK termed calls for the formation of a regional party as a selfish move aimed at getting individual power and recognition.

“We are really surprised by the path being taken by the coastal law makers. Instead of representing us in issues that affect us, they are busy planning how to get power, which will only help people around them. We warn that their party will remain a shell without following,” said CIPK Chairperson Hamis Banda.

Sheikh Banda said the parliamentarians are only scared of facing other politicians from upcountry in the various parties they represent.

He said forming a party was only using shortcut to ascend above the leadership hierarchy.

“We have the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG), which to me has done so little to alleviate the status of the coastal people. The group has about 25 members who rarely meet to deliberate on problems facing us, but will only meet to strategise how to get seats,” noted the chairperson.

Historically, according to Banda, coast politicians have failed to rally behind their own as witnessed in the parties that were formed earlier like the Shirikisho party.

“Even the current Cabinet Secretary for Mining Najib Balala formed a party. But how did it perform? Why did they not support him,” posed the cleric.

Banda told the politicians to give louder voices to the deteriorating security at the coast instead of talking about forming political parties.

He said most of the MPs have never uttered a word to raise concern over insecurity at the coast.