Coast leaders have continued to fight over the quest to have a local political party for the region.

Despite the region having existing political parties, several leaders have lined up to register new parties.

In a latest move that signals doom for the region, Kilifi North MP Owen Baya has now accused Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi over a plan to block the registration of his party.

Speaking in Kaloleni during the burial of Mathew Katana in Kaloleni on Saturday, Baya accused the two governors of sabotaging his effort to redeem the coast region from political slavery.

“I have struggled for over two years to register a political party and the registrar of political parties has given me the green light but some leaders from this region are hell bent to see this plan fail. I want to tell Kingi and Joho they are too late. They have given money to some youths in Kilifi to go to court to block me from registering the party,” said Baya

He said both Kingi and Joho are no longer relevant in the coastal politics.

“I want to send this message to them. They should know that their time is gone. They learnt that I am registering a political party now they are also planning to register political parties.  You are too late. This boat has already left the habour,” said Baya

Kingi dismissed Baya’s claims and asked him to shut up if he has run out of something tangible to say.

“Really? How is that even possible? How do you know so and so is registering a political party? He has never made public the party he is registering how do I even command the registrar not to registrar a party? He should stop dragging people into his own mess. Asked Kingi

Baya promised to launch the party in March this year.

Kingi however, said there is no need of registering a new political party but instead called for a merger of the existing political parties in the region.

“You cannot solve the political gap in the region by registering a party. We should merge all the other parties to come up with a strong outfit that will bring everyone on board,” said Kingi

He promised to spearhead the merger and come up with the party in June this year.

Coast Leaders dilemma

Kaloleni MP Paul Katana said the Coast region must have a political party.

“The region must have a political party to chat its own destiny in the national politics. It is our right and we are not begging anyone. We will not be cowed by anyone,” said Katana.

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Both Katana, Baya and Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa are in one camp supporting DP William Ruto.

As Baya is striving to register a new party, Jumwa relaunched KADU Asili last week at her Kakuyuni home.

The relaunch was attended by Kwale governor Salim Mvurya.

Some members of the party are however not happy with the move and have threatened to move to court to block Aisha and team from controlling the party.

Kadu Asili patron Gerald Thoya said party officials will meet to chat the way forward.

Kilifi county nominated senator Christine Zawadi said registering a new political party will not be significant in liberating the region.

“The monkey is the same it is only the forest that will change. If a leader is bad he or she will continue to be bad no matter which party he or she will join. Let us not lie to our people that a new party will change this region,” said Zawadi

Since the death of Karisa Maitha in August 27, 2004, a leadership vacuum has continued to rock the coast region.

No single leader has managed to bring the region together despite numerous calls for unity.

Ganze Member of Parliament Teddy Mwambire said most leaders have failed to unite the region because they are self-centred.

“No one has sacrificed to bring the region together. Most leaders want to sell the region to the highest bidder. This is the reason no leader is willing to listen to the other,” said Baya.

Mwambire said most people had hopes in Shirikisho party but the patron Chirau Ali Mwakwere later ditched it and joined PNU.