Who will succeed Joho as Coast region kingpin 2022? – Weekly Citizen

Kwale governor Salim Mvurya is at forefront in opposing the proposed merger of counties saying it is a clear way of killing devolution which has proved to be working in the country. The governor made the remarks at Kizibe, Matuga while distributing bursary cheques worth more than Sh3.5 million to universities, colleges and secondary school students.

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko

Governor Mvurya said if Kwale county was merged with Mombasa, Taita Taveta and Kilifi counties as proposed, this would create problems for residents who will have to travel far away to seek services, like it was before devolution. But what Mvurya did not address was the factor of regional kingpins in Kenya. For example in Kikuyuland, Uhuru Kenyatta is the region kingpin just like his deputy William Ruto carries the Kalenjin mantle. In Nyanza Luo side Raila Odinga is the face while Internal Security cabinet secretary Fred Matiangi is emerging sa force in Gusiiland. In Western Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetangula and Governor Wycliffe Oparanya are battling over the slot. Come Coast, governor Hassan Joho has been calling the shots. In Ukambani, the undisputed king is Kalonzo Musyoka.

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya

With Joho second tenure coming to an end and not eligible for relection, the question is who will succeed him him as regional kingpin. Just like Joho, two current governors are also having their term in office ending. Apart from Mvurya we also have Amason Kingi, the Kilifi governor. The only governor doing his first term is Taita Taveta Granton Samboja. With three of his colleagues set to go, then Samboja stands out as the person to succeed Joho as coastal political kingpin if re-elected 2022. The move is bound to tilt the coastal political landscape since the death of former minister of Local Government late Emmanuel Karisa Maitha then MP of Kisauni during the Kibaki era. Maitha a Mijikenda was seen as a regional powerman before his death. Before then, Sharrif Nassir and now Joho all of Arab lineage came to be political power brokers. The coastal tribes who are the majority falling under Mijikenda have been fighting the dominance of the monied Arab control of Mombasa and other towns. Just like luck favoured Maitha in 2002, political analysts say, Samboja will assume the slot if relected as he will be the seniormost governor. Others counties of Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale will be having first term faces in the plum county post.

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi

Already, succession politics for the Kwale governor seat in 2022 has started as Mvurya serves his second and final term having been re-elected on Jubilee Party ticket. Mvurya was first elected governor in 2013 on ODM party ticket but he ditched the Orange Party to join Jubilee in 2015.The once Raila ally has since been advocating the Coast region to support Jubilee government. The Kwale governor has not indicated his political future plans once his term comes to an end in 2022 but political pundits say that he could be fronted to deputise deputy president William Ruto in 2022 at party. Mvurya was at one time expected to be next Council of Governors chairman but his relationship with Ruto cost him Oparanya was elected. It is not known if Samboja will be out to replace Oparanya once his term ends as COG chair. Samboja last year to show his political network held talks with Raila and later Uhuru to difuse his push to dissolve the Taita Taveta assembly after collecting more than required signatures from voters. Mvurya was expected to take over from then chairperson Josphat Nanok.

Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja

Politicians to succeed Mvurya in 2022 include former cabinet minister Ali Mwakwere, Zuleikha Juma, the current Kwale women’s representative elected in last year’s polls on ODM party ticket. Zuleikha is considered vocal and and ally of ODM leader Raila. She took over Zainab Chidzuga who had dumped ODM in 2015 to join Jubilee. Fatuma Achani, Kwale deputy governor is eyeing the seat just like it is with Issa Chipera, an ODM politician and strategist. Chipera unsuccessfully contested for the Kwale governor seat on ODM ticket, losing to governor Mvurya. In Coast region a number of MPs and politicians are eyeing governor seats in the 2022 polls. They are Aisha Jumwa, Malindi MP planning to succeed Kilifi governor Kingi. Abdulwasmad Nassir, Mvita MP is among youthful politicians in Mombasa and the larger Coast region out to take over from Governor Joho. Mishi Mboko, Likoni MP is plotting for Mombasa just as Mohamed Ali, first term Nyali MP who has hinted on vying for the Mombasa governor seat in 2022. For the longest time, Mung’aro, formerly ODM legislator for Kilifi North, was Jubilee party’s pointsman from the coast region, which predominantly supports Odinga.

Nyali MP Mohammed Ali

His fallout with Raila was precipitated by the fact that Raila supported Kingi re-election. Mung’aro has reached back to Raila and is yet again expressed interest in the Kilifi gubernatorial seat. Conspicuously, he has been missing from Ruto’s coastal trips. In 2004 Joho emerged from ‘nowhere’ to make a huge plunge into politics in the Kisauni by-election. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of Maitha. At just 28 years, how was Joho going to fit into the big shoes left by Maitha, who at the time of his death was the region’s undisputed political kingpin? With serious infighting threatening to tear the ruling party Narc apart, the by-election provided a perfect opportunity for resident Mwai Kibaki and LDP leader and Narc ‘rebel’ Raila to test their popularity. During the nominations, the young Joho defeated tens of others including his bitter rival Anania Mwaboza to bag the party’s ticket.

Malindi MP Aisha jumwa

Mwaboza would later decamp to the Labour Party of Kenya where he received the backing of key Kibaki allies including Ganze MP Michael Kingi, ex-Garsen lawmaker Danson Mungatana and Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana. MP Kingi also wants to succeed his brother in Kilifi as governor. However, Joho was not alone as he also received backing from Raila friends including the then powerful Mvita MP Najib Balala who also emerged as his key campaigner. Joho lost the December 2004 poll only to spring out in the next elections and the governorship. Back in Taita Taveta politics, former governor John Mruttu has joined DP Ruto political camp. Former Taita Taveta senator and immediate former Kenya Ferry Services chairman Dan Mwadzo has divorced Ruto ahead of 2022 election. Mruttu is planning to oppose Samboja.