Joho, Mvurya, Kingi meet to discuss post-2022 election deal
Munira Mandano and Reuben Mwambingu
Three Coast governors, who are serving their final terms, are locked in a series of meetings which insiders say are meant to plot their political future post-2022.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho, Kwale’s Salim Mvurya and Kilifi’s Amason Kingi met on Tuesday at Mvurya’s office in Kwale town.
Speaking toPeople Daily, a source privy to the meeting who sought anonymity said the agenda of the meeting was a purely political alignment on 2022 politics.
“The three governors’ term is coming to an end so they are now trying to position themselves ahead of 2022 General Election.”
The source said the meeting’s agenda was a follow-up to what the trio had with President Uhuru Kenyatta last week at State House, Nairobi where they were asked to unite as Coast leaders.
Joho has expressed interest in running for the presidency in 2022 and Kingi pitches for formation of a political party with roots in the coastal region while urging residents to move out of ODM, a move that was rebuffed by party leader Raila Odinga.
Succession politics
On his part, Joho has asked Raila to back him in the next election. Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki said he was not aware of the agenda of the governors’ meetings.
“So far we have not received any communication; we don’t know why the governors met. We don’t know whether they are meeting because of politics or because of Jumuiya ya County za Pwani.
But its good that they are meeting because the Jumuiya ya County za Pwani was dormant,” he told People Daily.
Mvurya campaigned aggressively for Ruto’s candidate Feisal Bader who won the Msambweni by-election last year which placed him on collision course with Joho.
He had accused Joho of meddling with Kwale affairs saying the campaigns were “in-house matters involving residents, not outsiders.”
Mvurya has thrown his weight behind his deputy Fatuma Achani to succeed him, but with Lungalunga MP Khatib Mwashetani, another perceived Ruto’s ally- also interested in succeeding him, the ground is set for a major contest.
Besides Mwashetani, Achani will also battle it out with Agriculture Principal Secretary Prof Hamadi Boga, the brother to Omar Boga, who is also being mentioned in the race.
However, Mvurya’s team says they are preparing well and are confident that Achani is the right successor.
