Kilifi residents protest the exclusion of Aisha Jumwa from cabinet nomination list

A section of Kilifi County residents took to the streets of Kilifi town to protest the exclusion of former Gender and Culture Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa from President William Ruto’s cabinet nomination list.

The demonstrators accused President Ruto of betraying a loyal ally who had significantly contributed to his campaign, particularly in a region known for its strong support of the opposition.

The protest, led by local leaders including Juma Mwaringa, saw residents expressing their dissatisfaction with the President’s decision. They argued that Jumwa’s omission from the cabinet list was not only a personal betrayal but also a sign of the marginalization of the Mijikenda community, which makes up a significant portion of Kilifi’s population.

“Aisha Jumwa sacrificed her all to support William Ruto at a time when Kilifi was totally a pro-ODM zone, and she managed to garner votes for him that had never been recorded for any anti-ODM candidate. Ruto should immediately nominate her to his cabinet, or we all sink the UDA party boat in Kilifi County,” said Mwaringa.

Goldina Jilani expressed disbelief over the appointment of Hassan Joho, the former Governor of Mombasa, to a cabinet position despite his vocal opposition to Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza coalition during the elections. Jilani questioned the rationale behind rewarding a former adversary while sidelining a steadfast supporter.

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“It is incomprehensible that Joho, who campaigned against Ruto and Kenya Kwanza in the region, is now part of the cabinet while Jumwa, who has been a pillar of support for Ruto, is left out. We demand that she be named in the new cabinet, or we will decamp from the ruling party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party,” Jilani asserted.

Bilal Juma, another protester said the exclusion of Jumwa was a slight not only against her but also against the entire Kilifi County and the Mijikenda community. He highlighted Jumwa’s pivotal role in rallying support for Ruto in a historically opposition-dominated region.

“Jumwa is the first politician to embrace Ruto and is responsible for bringing leaders like Owen Baya and Amason Kingi into the fold of the government. Her exclusion from the nomination list raises eyebrows about Ruto’s commitment to working with leaders from the Mijikenda community,” Bilal Juma said.

The protests reflect growing tensions within President Ruto’s support base at the Coast, a region that has seen significant political shifts in recent years. Aisha Jumwa, a former MP for Malindi, has been a prominent figure in Kilifi politics and a vocal advocate for the Kenya Kwanza coalition. Her decision to forgo her gubernatorial ambitions to campaign for Ruto was seen as a significant political sacrifice, making her exclusion from the cabinet all the more controversial.

The demonstrators called on President Ruto to rectify the perceived injustice by nominating Jumwa to one of the remaining cabinet slots. They warned that failure to do so would not only alienate Kilifi residents but also undermine the political support the UDA party has been building in the region.

As the protests continue, the residents of Kilifi are awaiting a response from the President, hopeful that their grievances will be addressed and that Aisha Jumwa will be duly recognized for her contributions to the party and the community.