President Kenyatta calls on coastal residents for support

By Kevin Wachira/Grace Maina/PSCU

Speaking at the historic Tononoka grounds in Mombasa while receiving political leaders who recently defected from the opposition, President Uhuru Kenyatta called on coastal residents to support his administration in its bid to continue with the jubilee development agenda.

The head of state says his government plans to scale up infrastructural development across the country as it seeks to improve the living standards of all Kenyans.

A day after Taita Taveta senator Dan Mwazo and Woman representative Joyce Lay defected from the opposition to jubilee party, the ruling party convened a rally at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa to engage the residents of the coastal region on why they should join the political shift.

President Kenyatta hitting out at the opposition over what he termed as misplaced priorities.

Deputy President William Ruto paraded over 20 coastal leaders who were elected under the opposition but have since defected to the jubilee party, calling on coastal electorate to support jubilee party for the sake of national unity.

The leaders, who included governors and MPS who have decamped from the opposition and joined Jubilee, said it is time for the region to move on and ignore leaders whose agenda is propaganda and divisive politics.

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya said he decided to abandon the opposition and join the team which is keen on improving the welfare of wananchi.

He said those demanding accountability from the national government should also tell Kenyans what they have done with billions of shillings allocated to county governments.

“My fellow governors should stop diverting attention from their own failures. You were elected and given resources; what have you done for your people?” he asked.

National Assembly Majority Leader Adan Duale said the Jubilee government is sharing resources equitably, and singling out the free maternity programme, massive road construction, free exam for pupils and students in public and private schools.

He accused the opposition of assembling a team of hackers with the aim to interfering with election results.

He called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to tell Kenyan’s the measures it has taken to ensure their system is secure.

“I call on IEBC to tell Kenyans what mechanisms and backups it has put in place to prevent hacking and rigging,” said Duale.

Aspiring Mombasa Governor Suleiman Shahbal criticised Governor Hassan Joho for his divisive politics, saying Mombasa used to be an island of peace for all communities, but the county leadership has created animosity among Kenyans.

Likoni MP Masoud Mwahima thanked the President for buying the Waitiki Farm, settling the people of Likoni and giving them title deeds.

“Those saying we were given fake title deeds are the ones who are fake because they never bothered to help us,” he said.

Taita-Taveta Senator Dan Mwazo said Jubilee was taking care of the interests of the Coast people. Women Rep from the same county, Ms Joyce Lay, stressed that historical injustice should not hold sway at the Coast again, pointing out that Jubilee has proved that it can resolve the challenges facing the region.

Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro cited massive infrastructural development undertaken at the Coast under the leadership of President Kenyatta and urged residents to support Jubilee.

The latest entrants pledging their allegiance to the ruling party said that their decision to join the ruling party was informed by development opportunities being implemented by the government.

The ruling party declared it will only compete with the opposition based on its agenda for Kenyans and not empty rhetoric.

The president and his deputy are expected to conclude their coastal tour on Monday after commissioning Mtongwe Ferry as well as other infrastructural projects.