Failed election pledges to cost leaders seats in 2017 elections

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (C) during Malindi by-election campaigns

Aspirants for governorship at the Coast are banking on disillusioned voters to unseat incumbents.

Senators, Members of Parliament and businessmen are jostling for the position with reports that some candidates have already signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to create vote blocs.

Political analysts say due to incumbency advantage, aspirants will have to double their efforts to dislodge the current governors.

But analysts also note that being the first governors under the 2010 Constitution, voters feel that some county bosses have not met their expectations.

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Mombasa Branch Chairman Eric Nyongesa says senators have realised that the position does not have clout and are now angling for the governorship that is prestigious.

“They (senators) have now set their eyes on the governor position because the holder has more say in the huge resources that have been devolved,” says Mr Nyongesa.

He observes that due to the ineffectiveness of most County Assemblies and the fact that most county speakers are perceived cronies of the governors, the county bosses have enjoyed unfettered powers in the utilisation of resources.

Analysts say that governors have enjoyed their tenures and some equate scrutiny by the critics, civil society and the national government as an affront against devolution.

Political analyst and Africa Nazarene University chair of School of Law Prof Morris Mbondenyi says voters at the Coast are disillusioned by failure by the governors to meet election promises.

“Coast region agitated for the devolved system of governance believing it was the magical stick to solve all the problems. Expectations were very high and I can say the current governors have not met those expectations, “ he says.

Prof Mbondenyi notes that some aspirants were also driven by selfish interests given the governors position wields huge influence in resources.

Catholic Priest Father Gabriel Dolan says most senators fear that they would not be re-elected because Kenyans had not understood their roles. “Electorates will demand to see the projects they (senators) have initiated because they do not understand their work. It will be very difficult for senators to be re-elected thus are seeking new positions,” says Fr Dolan.

The cleric says the Member of the County Assembly (MCA) post had also attracted many candidates.

He cites Mikindani Ward in Jomvu constituency which has attracted 26 aspirants keen to unseat MCA Paul Oswago Onje.

“People have realised that the MCA is a well-paying job and the holder really does nothing. In Mikindani we have 26 people who have declared interest,” says Dolan.

Nyongesa says that Kenyans have realised that the MCA was “not just another councillor” and the pay and other privileges that come with the post have made it attractive.

“We expect to see more jobless graduates vying for the MCA seat. This will be good because it will then broaden the debates at those assemblies and make them more robust,” he says.

In Mombasa, Senator Hassan Omar, Nyali MP Hezron Awiti and banker Suleiman Shahbal will be seeking to unseat Governor Hassan Ali Joho. Senator Omar who is the Wiper Democratic Movement Secretary General and Mr Awiti, the national treasurer, will battle for the party ticket in the nominations.

The MP has dismissed claims that he will step down for Mr Omar and become his running mate.

“That is a dream. I will be on the ballot paper and those saying that I’ll step down for anyone are my political detractors. Omar is my friend but in politics it is competition,” said Awiti in an interview on Wednesday

In Kwale Mohamed Mwarapayo Wa Mwachai, a former Forestry and Wildlife PS in the Kibaki administration, businessman James Dena Gereza and County Assembly Speaker Sammy Ruwa have declared interest in Kwale Governor seat.

Kenya’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Chirau Ali Mwakwere has also indicated that he will vie for the seat and he has reportedly picked former Kinango MP Simon Mkalla as running mate.

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya has scoffed at some aspirants for signing MoUs to ensure some tribes team up against him in the next poll.

He said those seeking to unseat the governors were keen to “ride on the masses disillusionment”.

Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro will battle it out with Govenror Amason Kingi. Mr Kingi’s Deputy Mwakombo Kamto has also declared interest in the post.

“We will be there (contest for governor). The seat does not belong to anybody and it is anyone’s political right to contest for any post. But most importantly is to lift the life of our people,” said Mr Mung’aro.

In Taita Taveta County, Senator Dan Mwazo is reportedly eyeing Governor John Mruttu’s seat. The senator has denied declaring interest in the seat, but his allies say he is preparing to enter the race.

Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu has also declared his candidature for the post. Mr Mruttu’s allies accuse the aspirants of using MCAs to destabilise the county administration.

“To me the governor must go home because he has failed to live up to the expectations of the electorate. What is happening in Taita-Taveta has got nothing to do with me,” Mr Mwadeghu said.