Uhurus coast visit an exercise in futility Jakoyo Midiwo

Uhurus coast visit an exercise in futility  Jakoyo Midiwo

Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo has downplayed the political significance of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to the Coast region terming it an exercise in futility.

Midiwo said the trip will not change ODM’s political hold in the region noting that focus should be on the implementation of land reforms and not issuance of title deeds.

“I have not heard the president articulate any issues that can make our supporters decamp to Jubilee. When the president returns to Nairobi he will realise that his trip was of no political significance to Jubilee.”

“Issues of land at the Coast are big because too much land has been grabbed. It would be nice for Jubilee to implement land policies to resolve the land issues in the region.”

Jakoyo criticised the president’s move to issue title deeds to the people of Lamu and Mombasa saying the government is practicing an out-dated form of politics.

“When someone gives you title deeds for your land which has been grabbed then it is of no significance. We will go to Coast and tell the people the truth; that the title deeds they are receiving are of land that legally belongs to them,” he said.

Jakoyo was speaking during the commissioning of a boys’ dormitory at Sirembe Mixed Secondary School that was constructed by Gem CDF to the tune of Ksh2.4 million.

During his trip to the coastal region which began last week, President Kenyatta issued 4,073 title deeds to residents of Lamu and 5,007 title deeds to squatters at Waitiki farm.

The president also met leaders from Lamu at State House in Mombasa as he seeks to penetrate the perceived CORD region.

In the 2013 elections, 74.9 per cent (612,057) of voters at the Coast region voted for Raila Odinga while 19.3 per cent (158,083) voted for Uhuru Kenyatta. Musalia Mudavadi got 10,564 votes translating to 1.3 per cent while Peter Kenneth had 7,820 votes.

Political pundits have seen President Kenyatta’s visit at the coast, which has been extended by one-week, as a plot by Jubilee to gain ground in what has been considered a “CORDED” region.

The strategy coincides with Deputy President William Ruto’s “invasion” of Western region and regular meetings with leaders from the region to consolidate support for the newly formed Jubilee Party.

Western is also widely regarded as a CORD’s stronghold having voted overwhelmingly for Raila Odinga in 2007 and 2013.

In the 2007 General Election for instance, Raila Odinga got 639,246 votes ahead of Mwai Kibaki who garnered 312,300 while in 2013, Raila got 755,525 votes beating the region’s ‘very own’ Musalia Mudavadi who garnered 353,864 while Uhuru Kenyatta got 66,185 votes.

Regarding the forthcoming elections, Midiwo accused Duale for intimating that CORD is planning to reject the next elections saying the Garissa Township MP does not have the powers to foresee the results of the 2017 elections and should focus on defending his seat.

Duale has in the past exuded confidence of defending his seat despite ODM’s Farah Maalim expressing interest in the seat.

The National Assembly Majority Leader said his development record would help him win the elections, dispelling claims from the Opposition that he has been focusing on national politics whilst neglecting his roles as Garissa Township MP.

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