Kazungu nomination boosts Jubilee in Coast

By PATRICK BEJA

KENYA: There have been mixed reactions at the Coast to the nomination of former Kaloleni MP Kambi Kazungu to the Jubilee Cabinet.

Some leaders who have welcomed his nomination argue that Mr Kazungu was hardworking when he served as Assistant minister for Medical Services in the Kibaki regime. Kazungu was nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta to Cabinet to the ministry of Labour and Social Services.

He is now waiting for approval from the National Assembly after the vetting process. Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo of CORD Alliance and who had earlier rejected the nomination of Najib Balala to the Cabinet has now welcomed Kazungu’s nomination.

He argued that Mr Kazungu was a hardworking person and urged Coast leaders to support him. Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro, also a member of CORD backed the nomination, saying Kazungu  would serve effectively as Cabinet Secretary.

 Kazungu also got support from the Mijikenda where he comes. The Mijikenda Council of Elders Association (Mijicea) Secretary General Vincent Mwachiro made it clear the dominant community at the Coast finally had representative in Government.

 Mr Mwachiro told The Standard on Saturday that Kazungu was a prominent member of the community and that his appointment would raise popularity of the Jubilee Alliance in the region.

He claimed Kazungu’s nomination might now address alleged long-standing supremacy battle between Coast residents of Arab origin and indigenous communities. Mr Mwachiro, who is a long-time ally of former Cabinet minister and Matuga MP Chirau Ali Mwakwere, said Kazungu’s inclusion in the Jubilee Cabinet will help strike a balance in the representation of coastal people in the Government.

“We would have liked to see Mr Mwakwere in the Jubilee Cabinet but we equally welcome the choice of Mr Kazungu. He has made a lot of contribution to the community and we are happy with the nomination,” Mwachiro said.

Chairman of the Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council (Kemnac) Sheikh Juma Ngao said the appointment would be strategic to the Jubilee team at the Coast, as it would help woo the Mijikenda.

“The Mijikenda are the majority in Coast and the inclusion of Mr Kazungu is appealing to the community and may help Jubilee get support come 2017. I now urge Kazungu  and Balala to put their political differences aside and work together for the benefit of the country and Coast,” Ngao said.

In the campaigns leading to the March 4 polls, Kazungu defended Mwakwere as he sought political supremacy against Balala in what appeared to be a fight for ethnic space in the political arena.

When Balala was nominated to the Cabinet, Madzayo led the debate in calling for a member of the dominant Mijikenda community to be appointed to the Cabinet.

The Senator had also questioned Mr Balala’s academic qualifications claiming there were many qualified people from the Coast who should have been picked for the job, only to tone down when it came to choice of Mr Kazungu.

Former Shirikisho Party of Kenya (SPK) National Treasurer Mwakio Ndau said it would amount to double standards to back Mr Kazungu who also had low academic qualifications.

“I am not satisfied with what he has done. Jubilee should have picked someone with good academic papers and not a politician like Mr Kazungu. He should be properly vetted,” said Ndau.

In the Cabinet appointments, Mr Balala is seen as President Uhuru’s ally while Kazungu is Deputy President William Ruto’s pointman at the Coast.