Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro denounces Coast political group as coalitions clash over IEBC

CORD 'rebels' Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua (left) flanked by Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro at Jacaranda Hotel in Westlands yesterday night shortly after having a secret meeting with Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba and embattled ODM Executive Director Magerer Langat.They did not disclose the nature of the meeting, but Magerer told journalists he was still in ODM. [PHOTO: DAVID NJAAGA/Standard]

Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro has now denounced the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG). The MP was until April this year the chairman of the outfit.

At the same time, Coast Jubilee leaders yesterday denounced Monday's protests against the electoral agency, saying they would destroy the recovering tourism sector.

Nominated Senator Emma Mbura and 2013 gubernatorial contender Ibrahim Khamis said Mombasa cannot afford "the luxury" of demonstrations.

Mung'aro, a rebel Opposition MP, had supported Jubilee's candidate in the March by-election where the Opposition candidate won. Last week he had announced himself as the chairman of CPG and questioned Kaloleni MP Gunga Mwinga's election as the group's leader.

And yesterday, he announced a new forum of Jubilee-leaning MPs and claimed 20 of CPG's 33 members were in it.

He said he was the chairman of the Coast Jubilee Administration Supporting MPs and declared that CPG lacks a development agenda for the Coast people.

Speaking in Kilifi town after donating desks and Sh1 million to repair Mnarani Primary School, Mung'aro said his group had the right to discuss development issues facing Coast region and seek alliance with Jubilee.

"Coast Parliamentary Group is a political outfit formed to market certain people to win the coming general election but my team will bring development to the people," said Mung'aro as he asked Coast residents to abandon CORD and support Jubilee.

He added: "Jubilee is committed to bring development to the Coast region, and it has already started doing that. All we expect is for the people in the area to support it and ensure it wins the coming general election."

Mr Gunga described Mung'aro as a bitter loser living in history and urged the residents to reject him, adding that he defeated the MP in a transparent election.

"Elections to get the new leadership of CPG were legally held and I was elected the new chairman and Mung'aro has to respect the new leadership," said Mwinga.

Governor Amason Kingi said he fully supports CPF and its leadership, describing the chair as a development-minded leader.

"Mwinga's election as the chairman of CPF was welcomed by many in Coast as he has the ability to fight for and unite the MPs and spearhead development in the region," said Mr Kingi.