Governor Mvurya may face Mwakwere on Jubilee ticket

There are those who have interpreted Governor Salim Mvurya’s dalliance with Jubilee as a signal that he may ditch the ODM party.

Even though he has not come out to declare any intentions to decamp to Jubilee, his statements when President Uhuru Kenyatta visited have been interpreted by some to mean he will leave ODM. Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi said Mr Mvurya has been difficult to understand and should be given time to clear the air about whether he is still in ODM or he has moved to Jubilee.

Mr Mwinyi said going by Mvurya’s statements, it was not clear if he spoke just to please the President and his deputy William Ruto.

“The governor has been giving mixed signals and his body language has also been unclear. But what we should know is that the people on the ground have not shifted with him. They will decide which direction the politics of this county will take,” Mwinyi warned.

Should he join Jubilee, Mvurya will fight it out with former Matuga MP Chirau Ali Mwakwere for the party ticket.

Mr Mwakwere, who is Kenya’s High Commissioner to Tanzania and a former Cabinet minister, has announced he will contest Kwale’s governor’s seat next year. But ODM leaders insist only Kwale residents can decide who will be their next governor. Mombasa Woman Representative Mishi Mboko said if he leaves, Mvurya would not leave a gap in ODM because he had not actively participated in the affairs of the party.

Ms Mboko said the governor had skipped several party activities including the Malindi by-election in March.

“We in ODM believe choosing a political party is part of democracy and Mvurya is within his right to do so. But he will not leave any gap in ODM because he has not participated or contributed to party activities for a long time. Raila Odinga’s team is not shaken because there are many people scrambling for the ODM ticket in Kwale,” Mboko said.

An ODM political strategist has disclosed that the party may front Issah Chipera, country director of Plan International in Uganda. Dr Chipera has served in similar positions in Ethiopia and Zambia.

Analysts have also warned that Mvurya might as well bid the seat farewell if he decamps. But speaking exclusively to The Standard on the matter for the first time, Deputy Governor Fatuma Achani, a close ally of Mvurya, accused ODM of isolating the governor.

“Any time the Opposition leader has toured Kwale, there has been drama. In ODM, everyone is superior, with many factions that have been abusing the governor. You can be patient but when you are tired, it is good to go somewhere that is safe and peaceful,” said Ms Achani.

She added that Jubilee had gained ground in the county and would be voted for by the governor’s supporters next year.

PARTY FACTIONS

Achani said for the past three years, the county government had done a lot to address land issues.

“Therefore, land will not be used an excuse in the next polls. I am not sure we will win, but I know we have done a lot in terms of development,” she added.

Zuleikha Hassan, an ODM nominated MP and a member of the National Executive Committee, said every political party was expected to have factions.

“ODM is a political party where members are expected to use the party platform to exercise their political muscles ahead of the next elections. If they (governor and his deputy) are running away from competition, then they are going to find it worse in Jubilee,” said Ms Hassan.

She dismissed Achani’s claims that Jubilee had gained support in Kwale.

“Those supporting the governor’s move are the same ones that voted for Jubilee in the last elections when the governor went ahead to win. I am disappointed because I expected better. If he was so angry with ODM, he should have become an independent candidate. Going to Jubilee is trying to lead Kwale to the wolves. I hope he reconsiders,” she said.

As this was happening, Mwakwere declared he was ready for battle with Mvurya. Speaking by phone from Dar es Salaam, Mwakwere said he was however shocked that so much focus was being given to political parties instead of individuals.

“People change parties even five times a year and it is not newsworthy. You can even move parties daily. I have been in eight parties. All I know is that I am the next Kwale governor. What should be of focus is personalities,” said Mwakwere.

Morris Mbondenyi, deputy director at the Kenya School of Law, argued that Mvurya’s possible shift was a sign ODM was losing its grip on the Coast.

“The governor has probably realised working with Government has more benefits because it has more resources. He has seen colleagues in ODM and has witnessed the mega projects the national government has initiated in the county,” said Prof Mbondenyi, who comes from Taita Taveta County.

He said Mvurya may be worried about losing the ODM nomination following alleged political interference by powerful individuals.

And Pwani University lecturer Halimu Shauri said the governor wanted to be closer to power because 85 per cent of resources are held by the national government. Prof Shauri, who is from Kwale County, argued that Mvurya’s move would strategically place him in the 2022 succession plan if he delivered Coast votes, something Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro has been unable to.

“As the vice chairman of the Council of Governors and the chairman of Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani, he thinks he is the likely candidate to deputise William Ruto,” he said.