Kwale already in campaign mode for 2017

The jostling for elective positions has started in earnest in Kwale County even though the next General Election is still two years away.

In the gubernatorial seat, for example, a number of aspirants are either secretly campaigning or have given indications that they want to unseat the current governor, Salim Mvurya.

A potential candidate is a former commissioner with defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya, Joseph Hamisi Dena, who has already set up campaign  secretariats all over the county and has presided over many fundraisers to endear himself to voters. He confirmed to The Standard on Sunday that he would be  in the race.

Mohamed Mwarapayo Wa Mwachai, a former Forestry and Wildlife PS and senior State House official in the Kibaki administration, and businessman James Dena Gereza, also intend to vie. Some potential candidates recently met in Tanzania to discuss the 2017 elections.

To counter the emerging threat, Mvurya’s strategy will be to immerse himself in development projects designed to improve the welfare of his constituents.  “People should change tack and focus on development instead of engaging in tribal politics,” he said.

Mvurya says some potential  aspirants had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will ensure that some tribes team up and vote as a block.  Kwale county is dominated by the Digo, the Duruma and Kamba ethnic groups.

The Kwale governor scoffs at these associations.

 “Tribal politics is a divide and rule approach. After this they will start to categorise people according to their clans,” Mvurya warned in a recent rally.

Some pundits say Mvurya’s opponents may have a hard task ahead, following his election as the deputy chairperson of Council of Governors, and most recently chairman of the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) that is being shaped up.

The JKP, set to be formally launched in March, was established to earmark development projects which the region should focus on.

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy and his Bungoma counterpart Ken Lusaka have described Mvurya as someone who seamlessly works with leaders from other regions. “He is sober and can work across the board and get along with everyone,” Lusaka said.

“In politics, his position as vice chairperson of the Council of Governors requires him to be more assertive and take positions on difficult issues,” Timamy said.

Dr Hassan Mwakimako, a political science lecturer at Pwani University and a Kwale County resident, says Mvurya’s first year was shaky because he was learning the ropes of politics. “He was new and didn’t know the rules of the game... but he is gradually becoming assertive. The vice chair position has boosted his morale,” said Mwakimako.

The lecturer, however, warned Mvurya against appearing  to be working for  other politicians. “If he does so people will stop taking him seriously. He needs to remain level-headed.”

In late 2013 and early last year, Mvurya was viewed as tilting towarts Jubilee after he led a group of politicians in what was seen as the first ‘rebellion’ in ODM. He frequently hosted and worked closely with Jubilee leaders. However, Mvurya, Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori and his Matuga counterpart Hassan Mwanyoha  have lately appeared to be firmly back in the ODM fold.

Analysts say the leaders could have made an about-turn when they realised there were no tangible benefits to be associated with  Jubilee.

Political strategist Nicholas Zani says the rebels erroneously believed that the masses would move with them but realised that the ground was still in favour of CORD.

“After holding several meetings in which turn-out was poor, they realised they had backed the wrong horse,” said Zani. He says CORD’s Okoa Kenya rallies last year at the Coast were well attended, proving to  rebels that ODM was still the party to beat locally.

Another reason why the rebels may have changed their position is a desire to be allocated new duties in the new ODM hierarchy. 

ODM party leader Raila Odinga is reported to have spoken to the rebels and other leaders before they were reassigned roles. By being hand-picked,  Zani says, the rebels could no longer complain that the ODM leader was intolerant. One such beneficiary, Dori, was bestowed the deputy organising secretary’s position in the appointments that also saw Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho become deputy party leader.

Zani believes that the masterminds of the CORD rebellion had intended to  divide the Coastal vote but abandoned the project “when they realised they had not made much progress.”

Late last year, Mvurya hosted Raila in a series of rallies. Political observers say Dena’s close links with Jubilee may have made Mvurya to rethink his position with the ruling alliance, which will soon work under the banner of Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP).

The so-called Coast rebels in CORD are led by Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro, and comprises Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani and Kwale Women representative Zainab Chidzuga.

Mr Mung’aro’s key allies in Kilifi county include Kilifi South MP Mustafa Idd, Malindi MP Dan Kazungu and Kilifi Women Representative Aisha Jumwa.

The Msambweni parliamentary seat is also drawing much interest where incumbent Suleiman Dori is having to contend  with the likelihood of facing it off against Bongwe/Gombato MCA Omar Boga who has declared interest in the seat.

Positions

Boga is the Kwale county ODM secretary and deputy majority leader at the Kwale county assembly, while Dori is the fourth ODM organising secretary. The two have publicly clashed  in numerous   political rallies.  

Last Monday in Msambweni, the MP told a political rally he was ready to face his rivals. “When the former (Msambweni) MP Omar Zonga was in office, Dori opposed him from the start. Now that I have declared my interest, he should not be cowed,” said Boga.

Another fierce battle is shaping up between Mrs Chidzuga and her fiercest opponent in the 2013 General Election Fatuma Masito who finished second.

Pundits say ODM leaders  prefer Masito because of Chidzuga’s  association with the Jubilee leadership.

–Additional reporting by Patrick Beja