Young brother plans to succeed Kingi as Kilifi governor – Weekly Citizen

As Amason Kingi serves his final term as Kilifi county governor, aspirants craving to succeed him have begun early campaigns ahead of 2022 general elections in what is predicted to be a battle of titanic proportions.
The most notable names of potential Kingi successors so far include Lands chief administrative secretary Gideon Mung’aro, Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, Kilifi North MP Owen Baya and Magarini MP Michael Kingi.
Governor Kingi has kept mum about his preferred successor leaving his supporters to engage in speculations. The governor’s backers are however reported to be split between Mung’aro and Jumwa.
Mung’aro and Kingi competed against each other for the governor seat in 2017 with the Mung’aro in Jubilee and Kingi in ODM.
However, after the elections, the duo are said to have buried the hatchet and currently get along well raising speculations of a political deal.
During the 2013 general elections, Mung’aro’s political star was higher than Kingi’s but he was forced to forgo the governorship seat as he did not have a degree at the time. He instead campaigned for Kingi.
Sources say, the duo are also relatives. But other reports claim, Kingi cannot come out in the open to endorse Mung’aro for fear of a backlash from Jumwa.

Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro

There are claims that the governor reportedly uses companies associated with Jumwa to do multibillion shillings businesses with the county and it is feared if he dares dump her, she could decide to spill the beans and damage him.
The entry of the governor’s younger brother Michael Kingi, the Magarini MP in the governor race has also complicated matters for the county chief.
And as much as the governor would wish Michael to succeed him and therefore keep the seat in the family, he is aware that politics of dynasty would ruin his chances.
Michael was reportedly trying to cultivate the image of a man of his own but already there is grumbling about his candidature with sentiments that other Kilifi women also gave birth to sons and daughters capable of being governors.
Jumwa on her part has been propagating a narrative that Kingi should be succeeded by a woman as a way of reciprocating women support that has seen rule for two terms and at the same time encourage the girl child to work hard knowing that they also can hold top seats.
Owen, the Kilifi North MP is from the same constituency as Mung’aro and indeed he is the CAS’s successor as area MP. And if what transpired recently in the area during a funeral function at Gede is anything to go by, then the MP should not count on home support in his governor bid.

michael kingi

When Mung’aro appeared at the function, the residents refused to be addressed by Owen and continuously chanted ‘Mung’aro for governor’ until he handed over the microphone to the MC.
Owen is banking heavily on Mombasa Cement proprietors to finance his governor campaigns. The cement manufacturers have grabbed thousands of Kilifi land at Kijipwa area displacing thousands of locals who have been made squatters.

Jumwa

The cement manufacturer’s fight with Mung’aro who wants them to surrender the grabbed land to locals is the reason why they want to finance Owen to stop Mung’aro from becoming governor for fear that if that were to happen they would be dispossessed of the grabbed lands.
At the same time critics of Owen claim his political influence is also not being felt beyond his Kilifi North constituency and that the first term MP was literally punching above his weight, it is being pointed out. He is also accused of being mean.
For Kingi’s deputy Gedion Saburi observer’s claim, he stands little chance if any of succeeding his boss with critics likening him to an administrator as opposed to a politician