FALSE: Photo does not show the drought situation in Embolioi, Kajiado County, in October 2022
Admin A section of legislators from Kenya’s coastal region on Wednesday evening vowed to form their party that will have a national outlook.
Speaking during a television interview, Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali was confident.
“Personally I don’t think we have an issue with ODM party. But look, all other regions have their own parties with a national outlook. Western has ANC and Ford Kenya, in Nyanza they have ODM, Eastern they have Wiper, why not us?” asked the former investigative journalist who also added that he had nothing against ODM, bearing in mind that the party kicked him out.
Despite the feeling, most coast region legislators have been enjoying the fruits of being in government since time immemorial. Or at least say, they have enjoyed being allied to the government.
Also it should be noted that the Orange Democratic Party enjoys massive support from the coastal region with Kilifi governor Amason Kingi and Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho being the party kingpins there.
“It is such a shame that people from the coastal region have nothing to show for from the national government. The national cake is not equally distributed and all we want is to fight for our share. It’s a high time we stopped being beggars and showed Kenyans what we are really made of,” quipped Kilifi North Member of parliament Owen Baya.
With the constant wrangles in the Kenyan political scenario, it is however not clear whether this is a genuine call or a political side show.
The issue of sharing revenue in the country among counties has long been an element of debate. Fresh from his medical trip in Dubai, ODM leader Raila Odinga has cautioned against rushing to get formulas to this.
“At the moment the country has no funds. Before you rush into getting a formula to decide who gets the lion share and who does not, we should be aware that Kenya at the moment has a financial burden. Legislators should go back to the drawing board. At the moment let Counties continue with their normal shares,” said Raila during a TV interview.
Influential politicians from the coastal region such as Ali Hassan Joho and Amason Kingi are yet to utter a word in regards to this new political outfit.
According to Mohammed Ali and Owen Baya, the coastal region political party will have a national outlook and the backbone of it will be from the coastal region.
This latest rant might have different sides on it.
Political rebellion with hopes to cause division or might be as Embakasi East Member of parliament Babu Owino’s predictions of a political suicidal mission.
By Shadrack Andenga Odinga
