Hassan Joho, Kilifi North MP Gedion Mung’aro rivalry hots up as MPs threaten to oust CORD rebel from key caucus

A section of Coast MPs has threatened to oust Kilifi North MP Gedion Mung’aro from the chairmanship of the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG) over his criticism of the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP), which proponents say seeks to integrate the Coast Province.

Allies of Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho described Mung’aro as “self-imposed” chairman of CPG and claimed the MP could no longer claim to speak on behalf of the region’s legislators following his recent rebellion against JKP and the Opposition CORD which is dominant in at the coast.

These leaders appeared to be responding to Mr Mung’aro’s recent attack on JKP, which was established late last year and has been supported by most coast leaders, including some from Jubilee.

Coast-centric

Mung’aro, who has supported the formation of a coast-centric political party described JKP as an attempt by Mombasa tycoons to control all coast residents. “No one should claim to be talking on our behalf on the umbrella of CPG.

We just have interim officials and very soon, we shall be meeting to elect officials who have trust and confidence of coast legislators,” Rashid Bedzimba, the Kisauni MP said in reference to Mung’aro.

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But Mung’aro told The Standard on Sunday on the telephone that he is a legitimate leader of ethnic Miji Kenda and will not relent on his attack on CORD leaders. “I will not be cowed by the threats to remove me [as CPG chairman],” said the Kilifi North MP. He suggested that he was being targeted for defending ethnic Miji Kenda, adding that the threat to remove him as CPG leader was related to his rebellion within the Opposition CORD.

“They can take the CPG chairmanship from me but I will still remain a Miji Kenda. They worked hard to remove me as Opposition chief with everything being done in Mombasa,” said Mung’aro who was attending the burial of the mother of the Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lieutenant General Samson Mwathethe in Kilifi yesterday.

Speaking at Mlaleo in Kisauni Constituency, Mombasa County, Mr Bedzimba and other legislators said that they fully supported the mandate and aspirations of JKP and accused the Kilifi North of trying to sabotage a strategy to fight poverty at the coast. This was during the official handover ceremony for school bus donated by the Kisauni Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to Mtopanga Secondary School and disbursement of Uwezo Fund kitty to several youth and women groups.

Joho, who presided over the event said, “We stand here to warn leaders who have raised concern about this new outfit that seeks among other things to salvage the poor coastals from shackles of poverty that they are against the same people who voted them into office,’’ Bedzimba said.

Mvita MP, Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir and Mombasa County MP Mishi Mboko said that JKP stands to foster development and unity among the coastal populace. In a thinly veiled attack at the Kilifi North MP, Mungaro, who spoke out against the establishment of a coastal bank, which is envisioned in JKP, said the leaders will soon be meeting to chart a fresh start for the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG).

“No one should claim to be talking on our behalf on the umbrella of CPG. We just have interim officials and very soon, we shall be meeting to elect officials who have the trust and confidence of coast legislators,’’ Bedzimba said.

Untapped potential

On his part, Mr Nassir said that while political leaders would at times differ politically, it was no use to differ on matters development.

“We are of strong belief that JKP stands out to achieve the best out of the massive untapped potential that exists in our region and any elected leader opposing this move is out place with reality,” Nassir said. Experts say JKP, which is set to be operational during the first half of this year, will be a vehicle to move and address socio-economic challenges that abound in plenty at the Coast.

The outfit, whose brainchild includes the six elected coastal governors has among its key components the formation of Coast Development Bank and Coast Tourism Board that will help in marketing the region’s tourism potential.

Joho announced that the Mombasa County Government will undertake land survey work in all public schools in the county with a view to ensure they acquire title deeds.

‘’Mombasa County Government has a clear agenda. Our agenda in development and education remains critical in all matters development,’’ Joho said. He directed the county executive incharge of education, Tendai Lewa who was present to ensure that costing for survey work is done. ‘’I am also directing that all title deeds for schools be issued to avoid fraud in the future,’’ he said.

On JKP, Joho expressed his sadness at the way some leaders have chosen to discredit the outfit yet coastal people remain some of the poorest. ‘’Our people are poor and we have decided to come together, pull resources for the betterment of us all.

For example, the proposed bank will be issuing loans with interest rates that a common man can afford,’’ he said. Joho reiterated that it was time for the coastal people to tell their story and not vice versa.