Coast region will not form a new political party in its bid to unite the region ahead of the 2022 General election as previously indicated by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart Ali Hassan Joho.
Kingi said already coast has several existing parties and forming a new one will complicate the quest for the unity drive for the region.
The Kilifi Governor said plans are underway to consolidate the already existing parties in the region and come up with ‘a coalition’ which will drive the political agenda for the region.
Addressing a baraza after officially launching construction of a Sh. 60 million road project in Mariakani in Kaloleni constituency Kingi said among the parties already existing include KADU Asili, Shirikisho, Republican congress, and Umoja Summit.
”Creating a new party will create more divisions therefore we do not want to bring a new party. We shall begin a process of uniting the existing parties,” he said.
The Governor said their aim is to have an umbrella coalition of parties in the region so as to have a political vehicle that will be strong and act as a bargaining tool in the national outfit.
He said they want a vehicle that will deal with issues affecting the Coast people that can reach an MOU with other parties and be able to bargain and give conditions in case of a coalition.
Kingi criticized the newly formed political party by Deputy President William Ruto who was recently in the Coast region terming it as a party with its own candidates that has no plans for uniting the people.
He told Coast residents to reject the hustler political party as it did not mean good for the locals.
The Governor said Ruto went into a coalition with President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013 and they formed a government with an MOU that’s why despite all his troubles in the Jubilee party he still remains a deputy president due to the agreement,
”The Journey will not be easy, therefore any form of cowardliness has to be eliminated,
If now you are still getting phone calls from Nairobi including from Raila, Uhuru or Ruto, you have to change and take the destiny in our own hands,” he said.
Kingi said the political masters should now know that the phones cannot be reached in Coast and urged the residents to support him in the move so as to bring the people together.
The Governor also took the opportunity to campaign for the BBI saying it has a lot of benefits for the people as funds allocations will be increased from 15 to 35 percent which will boost more development than the one witnessed in the first two terms of devolution.
He said it’s important to change the constitution so that the revenue allocation is increased and asked Kenyans not to be fooled or lied that BBI is meant to benefit only president Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.
”When discussing BBI we must be careful, BBI is not an issue of insults that’s why you wonder politicians are exchanging blows,” he said.
The governor said Ruto opposed the 2010 constitution which brought devolution and is the same person who is against the constitutional changes which shall create more constituencies.
In Kilifi county for example he said there will be an additional four constituencies once the BBI is passed which will increase funding.
”Ruto misled us in 2010 we got 15 percent revenue allocation now plans are to increase the allocation to 35 percent the same Ruto does not want that again he is planning ill things for the counties,” he said.
Kingi said with the BBI Kilifi county which is getting Sh. 10 billion-plus shall be able to get over Sh. 20 billion.
”He was here over the weekend and told Kilifi county people to reject the billions and take a wheelbarrow, stop following politicians but stand with the truth,” he said.
Kingi said previously that a new political outfit called Tufe will be announced before June this year and is aimed at uniting the people.
Also present during the launch was Speaker Jimmy Kahindi, Mariakani MCA Fondo Kimosho, Nominated MCA Koki Musyoki together with CEC members and chief officers.