The battle to succeed Governor Amason Jefwa Kingi is gaining momentum in Kilifi County. Hon. Kingi is in his last lap as Kilifi County boss and the conversation on who is likely to replace him has been ongoing, online and offline including in popular meeting points, ‘vijiweni’ and palm wine drinking dens, 'Mangweni'.
Kilifi is a vast County, located on the Coastal Line bordering Tana River, Taita Taveta, Mombasa and Kwale counties. It has a population of slightly above 1.1M; 68% of them still living below the poverty line. It however, has great potential in agriculture, tourism, mining and fishing. It’s inhabited by 7 of the 9 Mijikenda communities, namely Giriama, Kauma, Chonyi, Jibana, Kambe, Ribe and Rabai sub-tribes. Giriama is the most populous subtribe and has also dominated county positions. Amason Kingi comes from the Giriama subtribe.
Deputy Governor
Gideon Edmond Saburi, a UK educated Construction Engineer and former Technical University of Mombasa lecturer, has been Kingi’s deputy since 2017. Before becoming Kingi’s running mate, Eng Saburi served as County Executive Committee (CEC) member in charge of Roads, Transport and Public Works Department. He then moved to Department of Tourism and Co-operatives before moving to ICT, Culture and Social Services. Thereafter, he bolted out of the county government stating that he was unable to work in the county amidst existence of corruption. The two antagonists buried the hatchet and he became running mate in the 2017 elections.
However, the Deputy Governor could be a man under political siege as he seems to be outside the list of preferred candidates to inherit Kingi’s mantle. Grapevine has it that Saburi understands this position and has already started mobilizing his ground machinery to try to get into the gubernatorial race, alone without endorsement from his boss.
Dynastic rumours
Sources reveal that Amason Kingi is contemplating endorsing Hon. Gideon Mung’aro, the current CAS, Ministry of Lands, who is also his cousin, to be deputized by a yet to be known candidate. The plan is to have Mung’aro defect back to ODM Party and use the party ticket to run for the governorship seat.
Initially, there were rumours that Governor Kingi was grooming his young brother who happens to be the MP for Magarini, Hon. Micheal Kingi. However, the perception of dynastic political inheritance proved a quagmire to Kingi senior, and analysts say that he would face rebellion if he endorses his sibling.
The Rabai factor
Rabai Subcounty has produced two deputies, the late Hon. Kamto and the current DG Gideon Saburi. Unlike his predecessor, Saburi is little known even in his own backyard and doesn’t create any political excitement in the Subcounty. He lacks the leadership charisma, fighter spirit, outspokenness and macho demeanor that were the main personality assets of the late Kamto. He is also aloof, dogged by elitism probably from his UK education, and is not in touch with the people on the ground. He only pops in funerals and official functions in Rabai, or when visiting his village in Rabai-Kisurtini Ward.
The Aisha Jumwa factor
The succession debate in Kilifi has been complicated by possibility of Aisha Jumwa and Owen Baya entering into the race. The MPs who are close friends are a threat to Kingi’s plan and he is likely to lose the ball if he doesn’t engage the two. Aisha Jumwa seems to be the front runner, though she hasn’t officially declared. Her grassroots popularity has increased exponentially and is now regarded as the leader of the Mijikenda people.
The expulsion from ODM propelled her into a national figure, and now is referred to as Kenya's Iron Lady. She has maintained public limelight and political pundits believe that her popularity in Coast has overtaken that of Mombasa Governor, Ali Hassan Joho. Assuming Kingi endorses Hon. Mung’aro; then Aisha Jumwa and Owen Baya in the race; Eng. Saburi could just be in the group of other political porters in the 2022 race. The battle of titans could be between Aisha Jumwa and anyone likely to be endorsed by Amason Jefwa Kingi.
If Kingi endorses Aisha Jumwa, the Malindi MP would win with a land slide.
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| Vocal Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa. Her popularity has grown in recent days. |
