Amason Kingi has abandoned his push for a Coast-based political party, just days after meeting ODM leader Raila Odinga in Karen. The outgoing Kilifi Governor had for the last three months intensified his push to have the region under a single political party in 2022.
According to multiple sources, the talks have now been taken over by Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, after Kingi and his Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho plus their allies abandoned the talks.
“We have briefed Governor Mvurya on our resolution as parties to have a coalition and not a merger. He has promised to have a meeting of all parties soon and get the way forward,” Kadu Secretary-General Jimmy Ngala said on Friday.
His position contradicts Governor Kingi, who has been pushing for a merger of all the regional parties, into a single political unit.
Governor Mvurya is pushing for the regional parties to adopt a give and take formula, where each outfit will field candidates in their most popular bases, backed by the other parties.
The Coast block has been under the grip of ODM leader Raila Odinga from 2007, with Kilifi being the bedrock of the outfit, with all its MCAs elected with the party.
There have been concerns, on whether Raila is losing grip of the region’s vote, following persistent political activities of DP Ruto in the region. With Kingi abandoning his push, and Joho pursuing his presidential bid in ODM, Raila Odinga is likely to have the block again in 2022.
