Plan for a coastal political party divides local leaders
Wiper Democratic Movement Party Chairman Chirau Ali Makwere speaking during the launch of the digital online leadership registration in Nairobi on September 14, 2020.
What you need to know:
- Mr Mwakwere, Coast Wiper Party chairman, said he would not shift his loyalty to another outfit.
- Some local leaders say parties with a national outlook never consider the needs of coastal people.
Former Matuga MP and Cabinet Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere has dismissed calls for the formation of a political party that will champion the interests of the Coast.
Mr Mwakwere said the region needs to rally behind a national party, and termed the campaign a waste of time. Leaders calling for the outfit harbour outdated ideas, he said.
“Local leaders should unite and have a clear blueprint for development. It should be a plan supported by all the politicians and residents,” Mr Mwakwere told reporters in Wundanyi, Taita-Taveta County on Tuesday.
He said divisions among political leaders in Coast are to blame for lack of development.
“We need unity that will make us freely articulate issues of quality education, youth employment, agriculture and better health care,” he said.
Mr Mwakwere, Coast Wiper Party chairman, said he would not shift his loyalty to another outfit.
Development heights
He added that the party, led by Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, has the region’s interests at heart.
The former Transport minister said previous efforts at forming such a party did not succeed because the idea was not attractive to the residents of Taita-Taveta, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu counties.
“Wiper will propel our region to great development heights,” he said.
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and several other leaders have been pushing for such a party, saying, it would help the region realise its political, social and economic agenda.
Some local leaders say parties with a national outlook never consider the needs of coastal people. They want the party formed ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Kinango MP Benjamin Tayari said he supports the idea of the region speaking with one voice “since that will bring prosperity”.
“I have not changed my position. I support the call 100 percent,” the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmaker said by phone on Thursday.
Own interests
He added that only ODM has a clear plan to help the region. “ODM will give the Coast a stronger political bargaining power than before,” Mr Tayari said.
Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime said that although it is necessary for the region to have such a party, the idea should not be used to shift loyalty from ODM.
Like his Kinango counterpart, Mr Mwadime said the Orange party has stood with the Coast from the time it was formed more than 10 years ago.
“Leaders should be championing the development of our region, not their own interests. For the Coast to make great leaps in terms of progress, unity is necessary,” Mr Mwadime said.
