Why Coast leaders are in do-or-die campaign to secure Ruto's re-election

The three top government officials from the Coast region have rolled out an elaborate campaign for President William Ruto’s re-election to guarantee their seats after next year’s General Election.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, his Mining counterpart Hassan Joho and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi are leading the campaign in an effort to keep their jobs.

The three leaders have pitched tent at the Coast to market Ruto despite the rising number of leaders from the region who are defecting from the broad-based coalition, including former Gender Cabinet Secretary Jumwa Jumwa who has aligned herself with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

The three leaders have braved hostile receptions in some places, as residents reject their push for zoning, while some have openly thrown their weight behind the Linda Mwanainchi faction.

On Friday, Mvurya and Kingi were in Rabai constituency in Kilifi County to engage with grassroots leaders and residents as they consolidate support for President Ruto.

“In Rabai constituency, Kilifi County, alongside Rt Hon Amason Kingi, Speaker of the Senate, and the local leadership hosted by Hon Kenga Mupe, to engage with grassroots leaders as we advance the Coast Region’s unity of purpose and consolidate our support for H E President William Ruto,” Mvurya wrote.

Over the weekend, Mvurya and the National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, were in Lunga Lunga for a funds drive.

“In Lunga Lunga constituency, alongside National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Kwale Governor H E Fatuma Achani, hosted by area MP Hon Mangale Chiforomodo, for an interdenominational fundraiser,” Mvurya posted on his social media page.

Mvurya, Joho and Kingi are leaving nothing to chance as they hold meetings and public engagements in an effort to market Ruto amid a growing opposition allied to the Linda Mwananchi and defections.

Despite past bitter rivalries, the three leaders are working with the six Coast governors to drum up support for Ruto’s agenda as they fight for political survival beyond 2027.

Addressing a public engagement at Mvindenin in Ukunda, Kwale County, last week, Joho braved a hostile crowd that questioned the planned zoning of regions for some candidates at the Coast and the cherry-picking of candidates.

An ODM delegate, Suleiman Mwanguku, told the Mining CS that the Orange party supporters in the area did not approve the zoning plan or stepping down some aspirants for others preferred by President Ruto.

“We also want the President to campaign for himself and not send you here to ask for our votes. We are totally opposed to zoning or stepping down aspirants for others because this is undemocratic,” Mwanguku told Joho amid applause.

 The 2022 ODM governor candidate in Kwale County, Prof Hamad Boga, has been critical of the attempt to stop some aspirants from contesting seats in the so-called broad-based government, saying that it was possible to zone candidates and difficult to do so for the voters.

In a statement, Prof Boga noted that Ms Jumwa’s departure from UDA reflected a growing sense among a segment of coastal leaders that decisions about their political future are increasingly being made elsewhere, then handed down as settled outcomes rather than negotiated realities.

“Zoning at the Coast is a fantasy: You can zone candidates, but you cannot zone the voters,” he stated.

“And if UDA and ODM are not paying attention to that signal, they may be underestimating the political consequences of their emerging arrangements at the Coast.

“There is a dangerous assumption taking root in the broad-based arrangement: that coastal politics can be settled around a table in Nairobi and then delivered to voters as a finished political package. You take this seat, we take that one, and the voters will follow,” he added.

Prof Boga, who came second in the 2022 Kwale governor race warned that if the Coast is mishandled, the problem will not necessarily be that voters have suddenly embraced another political formation.

But said that the greater danger is that voters may decide that none of the established arrangements speaks for them, creating either rebellion or apathy.

In Kwale county, Ruto's allies have declared support for the re-election of Governor Fatuma Achani of UDA and Governors Abdulswamad Nassir of Mombasa (ODM) and his Kilifi counterpart Gideon Mung’aro (ODM).

The team, alongside President Ruto, is rallying behind  Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime (Independent), while Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana (ODM) and Issa Timamy of Lamu (UDA), who are serving their second term, also back Ruto’s re-election.

The Coast leaders argue that voting for Ruto will boost the bargaining power of Coast and allow the government time to address historical grievances like land title deeds and citizenship documents.

The leaders said that the Coast region was positioning itself in the emerging political realignment.

Joho declared that he was eyeing the deputy president position in readiness for the 2032 presidential race.

Speaking at Vingujini grounds in Msambweni, Kwale County, recently, the CS said that supporting President Ruto will secure the region’s bargaining power.

The leaders are also pushing for voter registration to increase the numbers from 2.2 million voters to 4 million before the 2027 General Election.

"Siasa ni hesabu. Ametuletea Daktari William Ruto. Saa hii nawaambia ndugu zangu, tena kwa heshima kubwa, tumshike huyu bwana William Ruto, tumsaidie, tumbebe, tumpigie kura kwa fujo akimaliza, na sisi twende kwa watu wake,” Joho said.

“We are going to support the broad-based government so that we receive development programmes spearheaded by the national government,” he added.

Nassir said ODM's decision to join the broad-based government was aimed at safeguarding the country's interests while ensuring that the views of Kenyans are taken into account.

“Sisi kama ODM tuliungana na broad-based ili kuokoa Kenya. Pale Naivasha, kwa kauli moja tulisikizana kuwe na heshima katika ndoa hii na pia tusikize wananchi,” he said.