Governor Amason Kingi speaks during a party function on November 24, 2021. He has said his party will back Mr Raila Odinga’s presidency bid.
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Boost for Raila Odinga as Governor Kingi backs his presidency bid
What you need to know:
- The Kilifi County governor fell out with Raila and went ahead to form his own party.
- The county chief, however, says his new party will field candidates in other positions.
Raila Odinga's dwindling support in Coast has got a major boost after winning back Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, who has now pledged to campaign for him in the rich-vote county.
Mr Kingi, who ditched the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) five months ago, has promised to use his resources to campaign for Mr Odinga, his long-term friend, to clinch the presidency.
Mr Kingi’s move has brought to an end speculation that he was set to join One Kenya Alliance (Oka) or Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) with his newly formed Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) party.
Mr Kingi has declared that PAA will support Mr Odinga for president in 2022 General Election, but it will field candidates in other races.
“PAA will not field a presidential candidate in 2022 but will back Mr Odinga,” Mr Kingi said at a political gathering in Malindi on Saturday.
PAA communication director Joe Kiragu, however, said the party will give more details on its next move this week.
“The party will be releasing an official way forward at a meeting to be convened this coming Tuesday,” he said.
Mr Kingi was removed from ODM leadership five months ago after refusing to drop his quest for formation of a Coast-based political party.
He served as ODM chairman for Kilifi County but was replaced by Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire after falling out with the Orange party.
Left in the cold, Mr Kingi formed PAA, which he said will champion the interests of the Coast people.
Fall out with ODM
PAA is among the political parties that now support Mr Odinga and last Friday attended the Azimio la Umoja Convention at Kasarani, Nairobi, where the ODM leader launched his bid for the top seat.
Mr Kingi said his party believes in the unity of the country irrespective of religion, tribe, and or political affiliation.
PAA, the governor said, will champion and support any effort being made to unite the country, including the Azimio la Umoja initiative, which Mr Odinga said will be turned into a giant coalition to propel his fifth stab at the top job.
“It is for this reason that PAA will join likeminded political parties at Kasarani in an effort to bring this country together,” Mr Kingi said on his social media page.
The governor, a long-term ally of Mr Odinga, has on many occasion skipped his rallies at the Coast since his falling out with the orange party.
Two week ago, PAA announced that it would not field presidential candidate in the coming elections after conducting wide consultations.
PAA made the announcement at its headquarters in Mombasa as part of the resolution passed by delegates, consisting of former legislators and civil servants, drawn from the six Coast counties of Lamu, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Tana River and Mombasa.
Pushing for Coast unity
“We are not fielding a presidential candidate now because we know that chances of PAA leader clinching the seat is minimal. We are, however, ready to work with other leaders,” Coast Elected Leaders Forum spokesperson Lucas Maitha said.
Mr Kingi hinted then that PAA would be focusing on partnering with other parties to form a formidable force with small parties at the Coast to champion for the region’s interest.
“Every region is now busy planning its political future, Coast region must not lag behind. The region has allowed other people to make decisions on its behalf but this time around we have said enough is enough. A time has come when the region must plan and chat its own political path,” said Mr Kingi.
His move to support Mr Odinga has also been seen as a response to the party being left out of the five parties seeking to form the United Progressive Front.
Last week, five political parties intending to form the alliance said PAA was not party of them.
The yet to be formed coalition brings together Communist Party of Kenya (CPK), Shirikisho Party, Kadu Asili, Umoja Summit Party of Kenya (USPK) and Republican Congress Party.
According to CPK National Vice Chairman Buka Ngesa Omole, the coalition that seeks to advance the political agenda of the Coast people will be unveiled in January 2022.
"We have written to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) to reserve a name for the Coalition. We have been working towards this and we will not stop until we achieve what we want for the Coast people," Mr Omole said, adding that PAA was not among the five political outfits.
The Kilifi governor has, however, maintained that he will not back out of pushing for Coast unity despite criticism.
