New call for Coast unity ahead of 2027 elections

Former CS Aisha Jumwa, Mining CS Hassan Joho and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and CS Salim Mvurya flanked by other Coastal leaders during a press briefing in Nairobi on October 19, 2023, after a meeting to discuss development issues. [File, Standard]

Calls to unite Coast leaders have yet again emerged as the country witnesses a new political realignment following the rapprochement between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga ahead of the 2027 polls. 

Plans are in place to unite the leaders behind Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, who have reconciled following the Ruto-Raila pact.

Those close to the two leaders revealed that a meeting has been planned to discuss development plans and revive the effort to settle thousands of squatters.

Activist Nagib Shamsan of Kenya Land Alliance says most Coast people feel that despite promises from President William Ruto, his land reform agenda has not taken off for two years, since he took over.

Thousands of squatters like those on a piece land known as Kwa Bulo in Nyali, Gandini farm, Maunguja, Kashani, Ugatuzi in Kisauni, tenants-at-will at Mwembe Kuku and Bondeni in Mombasa are facing evictions.

In the recent push for unity, Kaloleni MP Paul Katana, Mombasa nominated senator Miraj Abdillahi, and Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule want Kingi and Joho to unite the region to push for land reforms.

Chibule stated that the region’s political ‘fathers’ such as Ronald Ngala and Karisa Maitha had a vision of political and economic unity of the region but they were buried with those dreams.

“We must ensure that we embrace each other as coastal residents. This is the third generation of devolution but we are still divided and underdeveloped as a region. We must sit down and look into ways of creating a conducive environment for investments and job creation for our people,” she said.

Abdillahi called on Kingi, the senior most political figure in the current administration, to rally all politicians to one table as a way of pushing for the economic development of the area.

“The first governors of the region came up with a good idea of forming the ‘Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani’ but we have not achieved much,” said Abdillahi.

However, just like it has happened for decades, some indications getting the leaders to walk the talk may remain a daunting task.

While marking the 20th anniversary and unveiling a mausoleum for former vocal Local Government Cabinet Minister Karisa Maitha at Mtwapa in Kilifi County recently, Kingi poured cold water on the renewed push to revive talks to unite Coast politicians, citing insurmountable grudges and personal interests.

“This topic has turned into a chorus because we talk about unity before elections then days to elections we go separate ways, and even after elections we remain separate until a few months to another election cycle and the trend continues,” Kingi stated.

He brushed off calls by Katana, Abdillahi, and Chibule to unite terming them as ‘tired’ talks.

Kingi founded the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) but local politicians largely gave it a wide berth despite the continued talk for unity.

Immediate former Taita Taveta governor, Granton Samboja, has also vowed to unveil his political party to negotiate with Coast-based political parties such as PAA and Shirikisho Party of Kenya.

He claimed that the other political parties have not carried forward the interests of Taita Taveta communities as they concentrated on Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa counties.

“We have finalised the registration process and what awaits us is the official launch of our party which has already been endorsed by relevant stakeholders in the Coast,” Samboja said.

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According to Kingi meaningful development, especially from the national government would only be realized if all leaders met at one table to lobby.

But he regretted that the region was missing out on key economic development such as land ownership documents, investments in value addition for cash crops such as coconut and cashew nut, and a wide variety of minerals hence providing room for exploitation from middlemen.

Pwani University lecturer Halim Shauri argued that the unity call for the Coast will remain unattainable unless the leaders develop a shared agenda and involve the people through public participation. 

Prof Shauri noted that a common agenda as opposed to self-interest will serve as the glue for the region but noted that no leader has attempted to do so.

“Coast unity has remained a mirage because leaders have pursued personal interests opposed to a common agenda. Leaders are in office to advance self-interests and not those of the people,” he argued.

He noted that the formation of Coast-based political parties has not helped much because the entities are being run like private companies used to propel the founders to key positions.

“Amason Kingi founded PAA and became speaker of the Senate. So What,” he posed.

Political analyst Hassan Mwakimako also noted that the politicians’ call for Coast unity is being used for political expediency but there is a lack of the people’s agenda.

“Each political leader wants to use the unity call for his benefit. No one is ready to endorse and support another leader to lead the way because they compete. They mainly talk about it when out of leadership but no one is making efforts to bring the people together,” Prof Mwakimako argued.

He noted that JKP has stalled because of leadership feuds between current Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and Joho when they served as governors.

“The problem is that individual communities have remained divided in the region and there is a lack of a common agenda. How can we unite the region?” he argued.

Former Gender CS Aisha Jumwa and Kilifi governor Gideon Mung’aro are also pulling in different directions over the hosting of Chenda Chenda, an event meant to bring together the nine tribes of the Mijikenda on September 9.

“Jumwa wants the Kilifi county government to participate in hosting the event but the leadership has refused. She has vowed to host the celebrations singularly. This shows a lack of Coast unity,” he stated.