Governor, MP rivalry ropes in county assembly

By TOBIAS CHANJI

Kwale, Kenya: The bad blood between Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani and Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya boiled over when their supporters in the county assembly traded threats.

Mvurya of the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) did not attend any of Mwashetani’s campaign rallies, including those convened by party leaders Raila Odinga and Moses Wetang’ula in Lunga Lunga constituency, amid reports he was silently supporting Omar Zonga of the United Republican Party (URP).

Key CORD leaders like Kwale County MP Zainabu Chidzuga supported Mwashetani’s re-election and this has now earned her enemies in Mvurya’s camp. Mvurya has frosty relations with many CORD leaders including Suleiman Dori, the ODM MP for Msambweni.

Yesterday, the rivalry between Mvurya and Mwashetani went a notch higher after two members of the county assembly from Kinango, where the governor comes from, warned Ms Chidzuga and Kwale Senator Boy Juma Boy not to set foot in their “zone” after they campaigned for Mwashetani, who has also shown interest in the governor’s seat in future.

And Mwashetani, through his ally Kassim Pojo, a ward representative for Mwereni, insisted that he and the MP’s group would go to Kinango in spite of threats issued.

“The two speak as if they own the entire county. Hon Chidzuga and Boy were elected by the entire county including their wards,” said Pojo on phone.

Pojo claimed that Mvurya’s opposition to other leaders is not popular, with residents accusing the governor of engaging in petty politics.

“As leaders, we should also accept criticism. Just because Mwashetani showed interest in the seat, it’s not supposed to create hatred,” added Pojo who also pointed to the probability of a looming showdown between the two factions.

Two days ago, while on a tour in Kasemeni ward in Kinango subcounty, the governor claimed he had received threats over the 2017 elections.

“I thank Mwavumbo and Kasemeni wards representatives and others for working with me but there are a few who keep complaining for nothing,” said the governor.

Mvurya said this after two civic leaders in Kinango, Anthony Yama (Kasemeni) and Anthony Lukuni (Mwavumbo/Mwatate), said the two leaders who sided with Mwashetani would face hostility in the governor’s backyard.

“We want you to come with only your deputy while touring here, but not the county woman representative. We don’t want her here,” said Yama.

They told their opponents to allow them to rule for 10 years and threatened to expose county assembly members they claimed are opposed to the governor.

Chidzuga has since said she was campaigning for Mwashetani because, just like the governor, he is also in CORD. “I have been campaigning in Lunga Lunga for our candidate as a member of CORD but because the governor skipped the meetings it should not be misinterpreted to mean we’re not together,” said Chidzuga yesterday.

Recently, Dori accused Mvurya of trying to undermine him.

Dori accused the governor of overstepping his mandate as outlined in the Constitution, saying he was playing politics to the gallery.