(Kwale, second right) and Amason Kingi (right, Kilifi) at State House on Wednesday 24, 2021.
The scramble for coastal region supremacy intensified after President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto met the region’s leaders separately.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday, March 24, hosted Coast governors including Hassan Joho of Mombasa, Salim Mvurya of Kwale and Amason Kingi of Kilifi in a move aimed at neutralizing Ruto's influence at the Coast.
Interestingly, on that same day, DP Ruto met a section of members of parliament from the coastal region at his Karen residence in what now appears to be a strategic plan to win the Coast.
While Ruto appears to bank on the support of the region’s members of parliament, Uhuru has targetted governors, including Ruto’s close ally Salim Mvurya, as he believes that they hold the keys to hearts of the people of Coast.
Joho noted that the meeting on regional development was a success, though he did not disclose much details about what was discussed.
“Together with my Kwale and Kilifi counterparts we had a productive meeting with HE Uhuru Kenyatta at the State House,” posted Joho.
Governor Kingi echoed similar positive comments as Joho on the outcome of the meeting and he too did not disclose many details.
“Today, we had a meeting with HE President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, together with my colleagues,” Kingi shared.
Sources confirm that despite regional development being the main subject of the meeting, there were discussions on the role of the coastal governor in the ongoing BBI popularization.
The president who recently secured the support of some of Kenya's top five politicians appeared to be sealing his strategies from all ends.
Musalia Mudavadi of ANC, Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper Party, Moses Wetangula of Ford Kenya and Kanu’s Gideon Moi are part of the leaders who were previously invited to the State House and were given the responsibility of identifying other leaders who can popularize BBI at the grassroot level.
Ruto on his part met Aisha Jumwa of Malindi, Feisal Bedi of Msambweni, Oen Baya of Kilifi North, Khatib Mwashetani of Lungalunga, Lamu Senator Anuar Loitiptip and former senator.
Reports further indicate that strategies on how to strengthen the Hustler Nation campaigns in coast was the main agenda of the meeting.
The meetings that were held separately came barely weeks after Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga toured the region campaigning for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
