Why Mwakwere coronation has caused political storm in Coast

Former Cabinet Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere in a past function at the Bomas on Kenya. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Former controversial Cabinet Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere is again in the eye of a storm after his coronation as Mijikenda spokesman in the absence of key political figures.

His crowning held on December 27, last year, at the home of Coast independence hero and doyen of opposition politics, Ronald Ngala, at Vishakani in Kaloleni, Kilifi County, was interpreted differently by politicians and even some kaya custodians as the clock ticks towards the next general election, although proponents maintain that Mwakwere will guide the community into achieving unity and harmony.

Mwakwere, who served two terms as Matuga MP in Kwale County, has led a chequered political career and has often courted controversies.

In 2007, Mwakwere led a group of Coast politicians in taking over the Shirikisho Party of Kenya and used it as a coalition party in President Mwai Kibaki’s Party of National Unity (PNU), causing a major political storm in the Coast region.

Two years ago, Mwakwere, who is fondly known as Dzipapa (great shark) was crowned as Digo spokesman before he went ahead to clinch the kingship for all the nine tribes that make up the Mijikenda.

He is now spokesman for Digo, Giriama, Rabai, Duruma, Chonyi, Kambe, Ribe, Jibana and Kauma despite calls to resign.

In a statement, Umwenga Wehu Welfare Association (UWWA), which convened the controversial meeting that crowned Mwakwere, said it took 10 months of wide and inclusive consultations with kaya elders, tribal councils of elders, youth and women leaders, professionals, and religious leaders before unveiling the community spokesman last month.

Ganze MP and Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) secretary general Mr Kenneth Tungule turned up at the UWWA gathering but missed the opportunity to speak, leading to protests among political leaders and some key politicians at the Coast over alleged isolation.

Many would have expected influential individuals like the Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, Sports CS Salim Mvurya, or governors to run the show, but they were not on the programme.

“From this process, an electoral college was constituted, which subsequently elected Honourable Mwakwere as the Mijikenda spokesman,” said UWWA chairman Dr William Kingi.

Dr Kingi, who is a senior lecturer at the Technical University of Mombasa (Tum) explained that UWWA had initial meetings with Taireni Association of Mijikenda (TAM), which is opposed to Mwakwere’s coronation, because the latter leaned towards political mobilisation for Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka in the Coast region.

Kingi said the inauguration of Mr Mwakwere was the product of earlier failed attempts and a beneficiary of hard-earned lessons drawn from decades of missteps, betrayals, and internal sabotage.

He explained that desecration of kayas (Mijikenda shrines) by impostors, false land crusaders, guns-for-hire and brokers, deliberate fragmentation and politicisation of culture, often timed around election cycles had undermined unity initiatives in the past.

“The current initiative is different. It is informed by these painful lessons and deliberately structured to avoid repeating past mistakes,” he stated.

He added that for the first time, a clear and functional framework has been established, anchored on social pillar to safeguard the Mijikenda identity and traditions, economic pillar to address land and resource ownership and political pillar which involves coordination of collective political engagement from a position of unity.

In the first 100 days, Mwakwere is expected to undertake an extensive regional tour to engage elders, youth, women, professionals and faith leaders.

“All efforts will be made to bring on board all well-meaning Amidzi (Mijikenda), regardless of past differences, in the spirit of reconciliation,” he said.

But TAM chairman Mr Peter Ponda, Kenya Road Board chairperson Ms Aisha Jumwa and a section of Kaya elders separately claimed the Mwakwere movement risked becoming a short-lived alliance rather than being a socio-economic empowerment of the Mijikenda people.

Mr Ponda opined that the Mwakwere movement focused narrowly on 2027 election survival rather than on the fundamental, long-term socio-economic empowerment of the community, adding that there was lack of a clear vision, inclusion of the people, efforts to resolve historical differences and addressing party loyalty challenges.

“While the desire to speak with one political voice is commendable, genuine unity requires more than just high profile meetings and cultural events.

“A formidable force capable of addressing key challenges like land issues, investment opportunities, and sustainable development as a whole, demands a clear vision, a concrete programme of action, clarity of purpose and crucially, true inclusion of the ordinary people,” said Ponda.

Last week, Jumwa and Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs and a section of kaya elders termed Mwakwere's appointment as a purpose to serve selfish interests.

Speaking at Kaya Fungo shrine in Kaloleni Sub County, Kilifi County, the elders drawn from the nine Mijikenda tribes said that it was selfish for some leaders to meet and install a community spokesperson in the absence of Kaya elders hence they will not acknowledge the appointment.

Led by Nzai Tsuma who is their coordinator and Nguma Charo, a youth representative Kaya Fungo, the elders issued a 14-day ultimatum to have the appointment revoked and Mwakwere made to apologise for accepting to be used to break the rules of the elders.

“Why is the call for coastal unity being used politically and sidelining other leaders? We will not accept our community to be sold out by selfish individuals,” said Charo.

Nzai argued the lack of wide consultation before unveiling the Mijikenda spokesman was a blunder and might derail the efforts to achieve long-sought unity for the community.

“Being a spokesperson must be derived from all the nine tribes and not a few individuals seated in a homestead because all the Kaya’s have their own rules and Mwakwere is only the Digo spokesperson,” said Nzai.

Ms Jumwa said the movement would not go anywhere since it lacked political blessings, claiming it was being led by a retired politician.

She said the movement should have a home-grown political party like Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) to push forward its agenda in the interest of the Mijikenda community.

"I was shocked to see a retired politician being unveiled as a leader of the Mijikenda. Without inclusive talks unity of the Mijikenda will remain elusive. The current attempt to bring the community together will fail because there was no consultation," she said.

Jacobs insisted that the coastal people were impoverished economically and unity calls do no help in any way.

“When you get a position in government, let’s come back and help our people economically. It is disheartening that because of poverty, our people must be bribed with food to get to vote,” he said.

Dr Kingi also explained that Ngala's family under former Cabinet Minister Noah Katana Ngala did not want politics to play out the homestead and that was why did not invite elected leaders to the Friday meeting.