Cord leaders hit out at Jubilee for campaigning at the coast

A section of coast leaders allied to the opposition have hit out at the government for orchestrating campaigns against them under the disguise of voter mobilisation in the region.

Over the past two weeks, the Jubilee Administration had pitched tent at the coastal city starting with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tour of Mombasa and Kwale Counties in a voter registration mobilisation drive and the issuance of identity cards to the Makonde community, which was later followed by Deputy President William Ruto’s tour of Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita Taveta Counties in a similar exercise.

The visits did not go down well with the opposition leaders at the coast, who read malice in the president and DP’s visits of their strongholds.

The leaders trashed the Jubilee administration’s development projects in the region saying they are meant to hoodwink the residents to achieve the selfish objectives of the Jubilee leaders.

They claimed that Jubilee is hell-bent on dividing coast residents and ensuring the fall of Governor Ali Hassan Joho who is rising as the region’s King Pin.

Governor Joho accused Jubilee of launching small projects at the coast as compared to other parts of the country, which receive mega projects.

“We are tired of seeing ourselves as marginalised, what we want is our right and to be given what rightfully belongs to us just like any other Kenyan,” he said.

The Mombasa governor lashed out at Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya for joining Jubilee, accusing him of abandoning the people who entrusted him with leadership.

“If it is about money to do development, why is it that I as the governor of Mombasa receive billions from the government to do development? It is given in the constitution, it is not a favour,” he quipped.

His sentiments were echoed by Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori who accused Mvurya of sidelining Msambweni while agitating for the construction of the Lungalunga –Sambburu road.

“Now that he has joined Jubilee, instead of fighting for the Dongo Kundu by-pass to open up Msambweni’s economy he is fighting for Lungalunga- Samburu road,” he opined.

The leaders who included Hassan Joho, Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori, Matuga MP Hasan Mwanyoha, Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba, Jomvu MP Badi Twalib, Mombasa County Women Representative Mishi Mboko among others were speaking at Gazi Village in Msambweni Kwale County.

Jubilee has reaped big politically from the coast, as it has already managed to receive five MPs who were elected with the opposition parties in 2013. The MPs include Lungalunga legislator Khatib Mwashetani, Kwale Women Rep Zainab Chidzuga, Likoni’s Masoud Mwahima, Kilifi North and South MPs Gideon Mung’aro and Mustapha Idd respectively.

The recent tour by the DP saw Taita Taveta Senator Dan Mwazo warming up to Jubilee.

Coast region is perceived to be a CORD stronghold after it overwhelmingly voted for Raila Odinga in the 2013 General Election.

It has, however, seen a fierce battle for numbers between Jubilee and Cord in the recent past. Jubilee lost a by-election in Malindi to ODM after Dan Kazungu was appointed to the Cabinet.