Coastal community urged to unite and benefit from Kenya Kwanza administration

By Johnson Chengo

Unity among communities in the Coastal region will ensure that the region benefits from the current administration, Mijikenda Kaya Elders Association has said.

Without mentioning names, the elders said that the region should avoid characters who are out to divide them and instead unite for a common goal.

The elders claimed that some people are parading themselves to the state house in the name of Mijikenda elders while they are not.

“We are being divided by a few selfish individuals using divide and rule tactics,” said Mwinyi Mwalimu, the Mijikenda Kaya Elders Association chairman.

Speaking after chairing a meeting that brought together different Mijikenda groups from the six counties in the coastal region, they urged Mijikenda leaders appointed in executive positions including Mining CS Salim Mvurya and his Gender and Public Affairs counterpart Aisha Jumwa and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi to ensure they use their positions to help the community.

Mwalimu said that for them to fight for the rights of the Mijikenda people, they must present a united front and ensure issues including historical injustices are addressed.

They also took issue with Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir asking him to appoint more mijikenda people in his administration.

“We need to see our people appointed to senior positions in Mombasa because it is our bedroom,” said Tsuma Nzai Mijikenda Kaya coordinator

During the meeting the Kaya elders also resolved to take part in environment conservation programs in line with the president’s ambition to plant 15 billion trees by 2030.

Nguma Charo, a youth leader in the association lauded the president for appointing three of their own into top executive jobs in the county.

He asked CS Aisha Jumwa, Salim Mvurya and senate speaker Amason Kingi to ensure that they use their positions to solve problems ailing the region as much as they were appointed to serve the country.

“We have had leaders from the region in top positions before including the likes of Katana Ngala who was once lands minster, and Dr. Swazuri who was NLC chair, but we still have land problems in the region”

He said that the three should not repeat the mistakes of their elders and instead work together to ensure the community is respected,” said Charo.