Tana River Senator Danstan Mungatana has urged the Coast locals that it is impossible for one of their own from the region to clinch a presidential seat without being part of a bigger party like the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

While speaking during a UDA seminar and Iftar dinner held at Mombasa Cultural Centre on Monday, March 9, 2026, the outspoken senator called upon the Mombasa locals to join UDA to realise their community’s political interests in the future.

He reiterated that in the Kenyan political landscape, it is difficult for a person from a minority community like theirs to clinch any meaningful position in the country, such as the presidency, and that the only way they can achieve this is by entering and becoming part of large political parties with a national outlook.

“It’s impossible for a coastal native to clinch power if not through a bigger party like UDA.”

He cited Senate Speaker Amason Kingi as an example, saying that it was only after he aligned with the UDA party that he was able to be appointed to such a high-profile post, as such positions According to Mungatana, they are usually reserved for the top five biggest communities in Kenya.

“As per now the coast has a representation in the Senate; that became successful by Amason Kingi being part of a bigger party.”

Message to the coast

He also referenced their recent party visit to Beijing, where they met with China’s President Xi Jinping, who similarly told them that he comes from a minority group and that the only way he rose to his current position was by associating with a party that has established structures and a national outlook.

He further told his kinsmen that if, as a community, they have political interests beyond 2027, they must join the UDA party to actualise their dreams.

He assured them that their aspiration of having one of their own at the national level will only become realistic if they join a bigger party, adding that if their interests lie in supporting Joho, they should speak as a united region rather than in divided voices.

Coast region politics

The Coast region, which has predominantly been an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) stronghold, now seems slowly to be embracing the UDA party, especially following the formation of the broad-based government and the appointment of Mining CS Hassan Joho to the Kenya Kwanza cabinet.

This also comes days after Members of Parliament from the region, led by Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga, threatened to withdraw from the broad-based government if their son, Hassan Joho, is not included in the proposed coalition talks set to take place between the UDA party and the ODM party.