Tough Kilifi battle on as Pamoja African Alliance tests Orange party
By People.Reporter, January 10, 2022Charles Lwanga
Tough political rivalry is in the offing in Kilifi as the newly formed Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) positions itself to field candidates in the ODM dominant region in the 2022 General Election.
The party, led by outgoing governor Amason Kingi has begun negotiations with leaders across the Coast region with an intention of fronting suitable candidates to contest for various elective positions.
So far, Magarini MP Michael Kingi, former Magarini MP Harrison Kombe, former Malindi MP William Mtengo, former Kenya ambassador to Zambia Sophie Kombe and Kilifi businesswoman Ruth Bendera have expressed interest contesting various posts on the party ticket.
Others are Kilifi Road and Transport Chief Officer Kenneth Kazungu alias ‘Tungule’, his finance counterpart Ben Kai to contest elective positions on PAA ticket.
To support Raila
Kingi who is completing his second and last term was elected on the Raila Odinga-led ODM party ticket. He has categorically declared that PAA will not field a presidential candidate but shall support Raila’s bid.
He said: “Making Raila the president is not a big deal since we will all turn out to vote for him as a block but as a community, we must know how we position ourselves to reap big in the Raila government.”
ODM has for many years enjoyed political supremacy in the region, until last year when Kingi came up with his own political outfit.
Last weekendm during a burial at Bale in Ganze, Kingi’s political allies who have already declared interest to contest for various political posts on PAA, reached out to Nairobi lawyer George Kithi; who is eyeing the senatorial seat to drop the bid and gun for gubernatorial seat on PAA.
Led by Kilifi County Assembly deputy leader of majority who is also the Shimo la Tewa MCA Sammy Ndago, they advised Kithi, who was burying his father Peter Karisa Kithi, to contest for gubernatorial seat on PAA ticket.
“My brother Kithi, we want to journey with you on a PAA ticket,” said Ndago.
Sokoni MCA Gilbert Peru, Cantona Mwadena (Rabai) and John Mwamutsi (Kibarani) told Kithi they are ready to work with him under PAA.
“We welcome Kithi to PAA and we promise to support you so that when we say go right we shall go right and if left, we will go left,” said Mwadena.
Mariakani MCA Frank Kimosho said the economy of Coast is deteriorating after the government constructed a dry port in Naivasha and through PAA; Coast people are able to fight for the revival of Coast economy to create jobs at the Mombasa port.
“Business in Mombasa port is deteriorating and as leaders, we came together to consolidate the region and increase our bargaining power so that we are able to revive the economy, PAA has pledged to deal with issues of squatter and economy,” he added.
Nominated Senator Christine Zawadi who has declared intention to contest for Kilifi Woman Representative position on PAA ticket told Kithi to follow his heart and achieve his dream through PAA of becoming the second governor of Kilifi.
Misleading candidate
“Those telling you to dismiss calls for you to contest for gubernatorial seat on PAA are misleading you, listen to the leaders and the people,” she said adding “We have decided to contest on PAA ticket so that Coast people may be respected and their voice is heard at the national table.”
Tungule, who is contesting for Ganze legislative seat on PAA ticket said is ready to begin gubernatorial campaign for Kithi if only if he accepts calls to join PAA as gubernatorial aspirant to take Kilifi to the next political level.
However, the narrative driven by PAA politicians was not taken lightly by ODM leaders led by Lands CAS Gideon Mung’aro and Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire who told Kithi to be aware of political conmen out to kill his political career.
Mung’aro, a former Jubilee party pointman who contested against the incumbent Governor Kingi in the last General Election and lost, is expected to contest for ODM primaries against Kilifi Speaker Jimmy Kahindi and Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi, who have both shown interest in the seat.
So far, UDA and ODM have gubernatorial aspirants while PAA continues to search for suitable candidates to tackle UDA’s Jumwa and the ODM flag bearer.