Why Kilifi is too hot for ODM’s rebel MPs

KILIFI COUNTY: ODM leaders from Kilifi and Kwale counties opposed to CORD’s call for a referendum and party leader Raila Odinga have run into hostile territory staged by local Members of the County Assembly and religious leaders.

In Kwale, pro-Raila and CORD MCAs have isolated pro-Jubilee leaders, especially Kwale Woman Representative Zainab Chidzuga, who are seen to be hobnobbing with the ruling coalition.

Many MCAs and religious leaders are allied to Raila, who is planning to tour Kwale to stem the rebellion in ODM, while others are simply exploiting the growing unpopularity of some the sitting MPs to upstage them at the next polls.

Some MCAs from Kwale recently met Raila or his emissaries to plan his tour of Kwale in two weeks, apparently to plot action against the rebels from Kwale.

Tiwi MCA Omar Mwakwambambirizwa and his Bongwe/Bobato counterpart Omar Boga, who is the deputy majority leader in the Kwale County Assembly, have effectively taken over management of ODM in conjunction with Chidzuga’s rival Fatuma Masito.

The immediate cause of the animosity is the recent visit to State House and apparent support of the local branch of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya.

Last week, all ODM MCAs boycotted a meeting called by Chidzuga at her Kwale home prompting her to launch a tirade against Raila.

In Kilifi, the removal of Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro has opened a new front of agitation against the former prime minister with reports that his sacking as CORD’s deputy chief whip caused confusion among CORD supporters and also spurred support for the MP, according to Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo.

Mung’aro claims those MPs who criticised him at a rally attended by Ruto on Saturday are nominated and should not be considered popular but The Standard established that at least one of the MCAs is elected.

“There are 35 elected MCAs in Kilifi County. Ask yourself why it was a nominated MCA who was given a chance to speak after we had spoken?” said Munga’ro Sunday when asked about the rift between MPs and MCAs.

In both areas local ODM leaders and their allies in Jubilee are split between support for Raila and Deputy President William Ruto who was hosted by rebel ODM MPs in Kilifi Sunday although Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi also attended the meeting and accused the rebels of inciting rebellion against the referendum without good reasons.

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On Saturday, sharp differences between Kilifi MCAs and MPs Mung’aro and Mustafa Idi (Kilifi South) played out in front of Ruto when the ward representatives declared support for the referendum as the MPs opposed it. One MCA, Anderson Kingi told Ruto that “these MPs are misleading you because we shall vote for the referendum”.

Kibarani MCA Gatrod  Mbeyu Mwonga said the MCAs in Kilifi eventually boycotted a dinner sponsored by the deputy president, adding that they are unhappy with MPs because they do not regard them as leaders.

He said most MCAs have not decided how they will vote at the proposed referendum but support allocation of more money to county governments by any means, including without a referendum. He claimed that they felt belittled at the Ruto rally until they were accommodated by Kingi to speak “after all MPs had spoken” but denied that the governor was not behind MCAs’ attack on MPs.

Mwonga claimed MCAs held a meeting on Friday to arrange Saturday’s event.

Hassan Mwakimako, a lecturer at Pwani University in Kilifi, said yesterday that the differences were due to the scramble for Jubilee goodies.

“Jubilee has dangled a carrot that everyone is fighting for. MCAs feel that MPs are getting more than them,” Dr Mwakimako.

He said that ODM is trying to regroup in the region and some MCAs may be groomed to take on MPs in future polls.

Madzayo said that Mung’aro’s demotion had jolted CORD’s support in the area.

Besides Mung’aro and Idi other MPs at Ruto’s rally on Saturday were Harrison Kombe (Magarini) Dan Kazungu (Malindi) and Kilifi Woman Representative Asha Karisa Jumwa.

Mung’aro’s troubles begun when he spearheaded opposition to the referendum.

“There is no business for CORD to call a referendum with an aim to give more powers and resources to the counties. We have planned to do door-to-door campaigns to advise the people to reject it,” said Mungaro.

Jumwa claimed Jubilee had demonstrated good intention in solving the land problems at the Coast.

Idi claimed that the ODM manifesto “does not say that we call for a referendum after we lose elections. He praised Jubilee but was immediately opposed by MCAs Anderson Kingi and Elina Mabru who said they will support the referendum.

“We have discovered that MPs are fighting for their own interests when they meet the two principals of the Jubilee Government and due to that we have resolved not to work with them,” said Kingi.

Ms Mbaru who is MCA for Magarini on her side hit at the MPs, accusing them of misleading Ruto to believe that local people believe Jubilee is solving Coast’s problems.

Mbaru took issue with Jumwa over Sh54 million raised by Ruto for women late last month, demanding to know why it had not been disbursed.

“Mr deputy president, we want to inform you that the Sh54 million you recently raised for the Kilifi County women groups has not reached the women and we want to know where that money was taken,” said Mbaru.

Ruto accused the leaders of washing their dirty linen in public and denied MCAs claims that he had planned a secret lunch with MPs without involving them.

This comes even as the Catholic Church faulted the push for a national referendum, saying political bickering is recipe for chaos.