Early campaigns hit Kwale county – Weekly Citizen

Early campaigns for 2022 general elections have intensified in Kwale county following Governor Salim Mvurya’s decision to endorse his deputy Fatuma Achani as his preferred successor. The governor is doing his second and last term.
Initially, many perceived and dismissed Achani as a political lightweight in the governor’s succession battle. However, in the recent times, the political landscape has dramatically changed following Mvurya’s sustained marketing of his deputy.

Kwale deputy governor Fatuma Achani

Sources say among other things, the governor has tactically retreated and let Achani to be more visible in handling county issues including launching of development projects across the county and in the process endearing herself to voters.
Mvurya has told residents that Achani would be the only person capable of continuing with his legacy of development, pointing out that most of his opponents are self seekers who want to enrich themselves with county resources.
At the same time, Mvurya argues that since he is from the Duruma community which is the second largest in the county, it is only fair that the Digo community from whom Achani comes from and which is the largest be given a chance to produce the next governor in the 2022 general elections.
Mvurya’s endorsement of his deputy and the ongoing campaign through community projects has forced would-be opponents to come out of their closet and stake a claim on the governorship.
Among these is Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani who has teamed up with his Kinango counterpart Benjamin Tayari to among other things discredit Mvurya’s candidate. They have linked the deputy governor to misappropriation of funds meant for some projects. Achani has denied the allegations and recently claimed her life was in danger.
The Mwashetani camp which also comprises senator Issa Boy has been traversing the county discrediting the Mvurya administration which they blame for massive corruption as per the auditor general’s reports.

Chirau Ali Mwakwere

At the same time, former Transport minister Chirau Mwakwere is preparing to contest for the second time. He is a big name in the county and is well endowed financially. In the last general elections, he surprised residents when he said during aspirant’s debate at Kwale town-hall that he was worth a whopping Sh2 billion.
Both Suleiman Mwashetani and Mwakwere are from the Digo community same as Achani, something that is giving Mvurya sleepless nights as he schemes to accomplish his succession plans.