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President William Ruto addresses residents during the laying a foundation stone at Whitehouse Diani's Affordable Housing Project in Kwale County on February 25, 2025.
President William Ruto has waded into the escalating political hostilities between Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and a section of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) members in the Coast region, calling for an immediate truce.
Mr Joho has faced resistance over his bid for political supremacy in the region, as he angles to be President Ruto’s running mate in the 2027 General Election.
His ambition has not gone down well with some UDA members who consider Sports and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya their de facto representative in the national government, as they also support Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s tenure.
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya (left), Deputy President William Ruto (centre) and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi greet Kaya elders at the Kwale Stadium in Kinarini during a Kenya Kwanza Alliance rally on February 6.
Speaking while breaking fast with Muslim faithful at the State House in Mombasa on Friday, the Head of State warned against the divisive politics currently rocking the Coast.
“ODM and UDA leaders, your responsibility to work in harmony is paramount. Do not let infighting undermine our progress,” he said.
He stressed that leaders of the broad-based government must act as the glue for national cohesion rather than the architects of division. President Ruto further urged Coast leaders to speak with one voice.
“You have heard there is both ‘fire’ and ‘power’ in this broad-based government. When you combine the two, we harness a firepower that will propel this nation to new heights,” he said, drawing from the popular slogans by his deputy and ODM leader Oburu Oginga, respectively.
“Don’t divide our country, I beg you. On your shoulders rests the unity of our nation,” the President implored.
The current wave of division among Coast politicians was triggered earlier this year, when a group of legislators formally declared Mr Joho as the region’s undisputed political kingpin.
'National stature'
The legislators, under the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG), argued that the region has historically been sidelined at the national negotiation table and needs a singular, powerful voice to demand its share of the national cake. They insisted that CS Joho possesses the requisite national stature, financial muscle, and charisma to navigate the national politics.
Mr Joho has since been crisscrossing the Coast counties to champion the broad-based government agenda while subtly positioning himself as the mediator for the region’s interests.
However, his unity tours took a different turn when he visited Kwale County a week ago, the traditional stronghold of CS Mvurya. The move drew a fierce backlash from Mr Mvurya’s inner circle.
Led by Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, the CS’s foot soldiers accused the former Mombasa governor of "overstepping his mandate" and attempting to sow seeds of discord among regional leaders.
CS Mvurya’s faction sees the 2027 running mate discussion as premature, disrespectful to the current deputy president, and dangerous for the region’s unity.
Mr Mvurya, speaking with uncharacteristic bluntness, expressed shock that the DP position had become a matter of public debate. He said the deputy president is not elected by regional blocs but is a choice made solely by the presidential candidate.
President William Ruto, his deputy Kithure Kindiki, Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir (right), Cabinet secretaries Davis Chirchir (extreme right), Hassan Joho (left) and Salim Mvurya (extreme right) during the inspection of the Kwa Jomvu Interchange in Mombasa County.
“We are very shocked that the issue of the DP position for 2027 has become a major debate. This is taking us back,” Mr Mvurya said.
“I want to tell you: that is the prerogative of the presidential candidate. In UDA, it is President Ruto who has that prerogative. Let us stop giving Coast people hope for something that is not there,” he added.
Mr Mvurya further defended Prof Kindiki, describing him as a professor of high standing with an international track record. He warned that the region’s attempts to pile pressure on the president into a reshuffle of the 2027 ticket could lead to political isolation.
The rift has effectively split the Coast into two camps. On one side stands the CPG, who are demanding a seat at the table and see Mr Joho as their best bet to get there.
“We want Coast to be represented at the negotiation tables. We are not pleading; we are demanding,” said Malindi MP, Ms Gertrude Mbeyu.
On the other side, a section of UDA members recently met in Mombasa to reiterate their support for the status quo, specifically backing President Ruto and the DP Kindiki without conditions.
During the Iftar, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi assured President Ruto that he would work with Mr Mvurya to solidify the Coast base.
Mr Joho did not attend the event, sending apologies that he had traveled to Umrah, the voluntary Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia that Muslims can perform at any time of the year.
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