Led by Kilifi North MP, Owen Baya over ten MPs from the coastal region are planning to quit Raila Odinga led-party ODM to form a new political vehicle as the country warms up for the 2022 General Elections.
According to legislatures, the new party will give the region a stronger political bargaining power in crucial national matters such as the formation of parliamentary leadership and the proposed revenue allocation formula.
Sources say the Coastal lawmakers have been in constant meetings to execute plans to form the new party; signaling their plans to ditch ODM.
The regions elected leaders have expressed their disappointment with Raila’s party after it failed to appoint them to lead the parliamentary committees.
Mr. Odinga’s decision to support the third basis of sharing county revenue that will see North Eastern and Coastal counties lose revenue has also angered the leaders.
MP Owen Baya said sitting MPs, including those in Jubilee and other parties, have met in several occasions to discuss the agenda
Baya also revealed that the party will be launched before 2022 polls will bring together all other existing coastal political outfits.
“I can tell you without fear or a shadow of a doubt that we are ready with a political party. It is just a matter of time … of when we can launch and start branding it,” Baya said.
Political parties in the Coast include the National Liberal Party, Devolution Party of Kenya, Umoja Summit Political Party of Kenya, Shirikisho Party of Kenya, and Kadu-Asili.
The move by the MPs comes at a time when the gubernatorial terms of two ODM appointments in Coast, Amason Kingi (Kilifi), and Hassan Joho (Mombasa) are coming to an end.
When Daily Nation contacted Governor Kingi to comment on the issue, he was reluctant to give his position on the new party, stating that he will only comment on the issue as things unfold.
Coastal Parliamentary Group (CPG) chairman Said Hirbae who is also the MP of Galole confirmed the plans but sais they were still in the consultation stage.
“We have not taken any direction concerning the matter but discussions are ongoing. Coast region has 41 elective posts, which is a big number, and if united we will increase our bargaining power,” told Nation Mr. Hirbae.
A week ago MP Baya and defiant ODM Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa seemed to have decided to push for the formation of the Coastal region party.
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The two have occasionally criticized the ODM party and called on the leaders to ditch ODM.
“The party targets to get 30 parliamentary seats, at least five or six senators and about five governor seats in the coast. We are welcoming other regions of like mind such as North Eastern, which has 32 MP slots so that we can join up as regions that have been marginalized for many years and have over 60 seats in Parliament,” Baya said.
During a burial of the mother of Kakuyuni MCA Nixon Mramba, Jumwa, Christine Zawadi and Senator Stewart Madzayo condemned Raila’s camp for leaving out Coast MPs in the parliamentary committee leadership positions.
