COAST leaders are planning to ditch ODM and other Cord coalition affiliate parties this month.
“We met the Deputy President at the weekend here in Mombasa and told him that a few of us have already decided to leave ODM for URP,” one MP told the Star.
Yesterday the Coast Parliamentary Group chair and Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro confirmed the plan.
“We are looking to see where our future is guaranteed and viable. Soon we will announce our next destination,” said Mung’aro.
While some MPs intend to join William Ruto’s URP or President Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA, others are considering coast based parties like the Republican Congress formed by Mining Secretary Najib Balala last year.
Most elected leaders at the Coast belong to ODM. It is not clear whether voters would support the MPs or stick with alternative candidates selected by ODM.
Those MPs consdiering a change of parties include Dan Kazungu of Malindi, Hassan Mwanyoha of Matuga, Mustafa Iddi of Kilifi South, Aisha Jumwa women representative for Kilifi, Suleiman Dori of Msambweni, Khatib Mwashetani of Lunga Lunga, Gunga Mwinga of Kaloleni, Hari Kombe of Magarini, Zainab Chidzuga of Kwale and Jones Mlolwa of Voi.
Dori said that they would have no problem supporting Jubilee if as their electorate get services.
Voi MP Jones Mlolwa said that they need to be united so that the region is counted in government in 2017.
They were speaking at at Baraza Park in Kwale on Sunday evening during a fundraising for women presided over by Deputy President William Ruto who was accompanied by Kwale governor Salim Mvurya, Senate Majority leader Kithure Kindiki and National Assembly Majoreity leader Aden Duale.
“We cannot be second class citizens after 50 years of independence and every term vote for some other people,” said Mungaro
Mung’aro said that the Coast region would provide the deputy president of the government if Ruto becomes president after Uhuru has served two terms.
“After a Ruto term, then Coast region will work with Eastern, Busia and other regions to come together to get a president,” said Mung’aro.
At the weekend Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno announced that he will ditch ODM before 2017.
“We are many people from across the country planning to leave ODM which is being managed like a family property,” said Dalmas.
“Myself and other people are forming a new party which we will be a new vehicle for us in 2017,” said Dalmas yesterday.
There were mixed reactions to the decision by Dalmas to form a new party and run for the Presidency in 2017.
Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga laughed off the idea saying Nyanza people were more comfortable in ODM.
“Nothing will make us decamp from ODM party and any attempt to divide South Nyanza from Central Nyanza will not succeed,” said Homabay Town MP Opondo Kaluma.
“We want to advise Dalmas Otieno and his Kalausi team to stop undermining the Right Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga,” said Nyanza Young Leaders for Ababu Namwamba in a statement signed by Secretary Roy Kobwanga.
– the-star.co.ke
