By Alloys Musyoka
Kwale county gubernatorial contest has begun in earnest ahead of the 2027 general election as governor Fatuma Achani dismisses those out to unseat her as jokers.
Achani beat professor Hamadi Iddi Boga and engineer Lung’anzi Chai Mangale who took position two with 53,972 votes and three with 47,301 votes respectively by 59,674 votes to take over from former governor and current CS sports Salim Mvurya in 2022.
The governor asked Professor Boga and engineer Chai to get prepared for another crushing defeat that will send the dual into a political oblivion for life.
The two Boga and Lung’anzi have declared interest for the governor seat as they unite to unseat Achani in what is coming out as a one woman versus a two men race.
Boga and Lung’anzi who have of late appeared taking tea together are said to be joining forces to work ways on unseating current governor Fatuma Achani.
Boga has maintained he is ready to serve Kwale people.
Engineer Lung’anzi has been quoted saying that instead of bursaries issued by governor Fatuma Achani the money should be used for economic empowerment to help locals be able to afford paying school fees.
However, governor Achani has maintained she’s the best placed to lead Kwale people for her second five years’ term saying that she’s not scared by their unity in 2027.
At the center of the contest is bursaries issuance with the Boga and Lung’anzi team claiming it is being issued politically while Achani and brigades maintain that county governments are better placed to distribute bursaries to locals.
While launching the distribution of bursaries cheques amounting to sh400 under the Elimu ni sasa initiative, Achani said that 17,790 students in secondary and colleges across the 20 wards in the area are set to benefit.
“Those competing with me even if they unite I will beat them early in the morning because they have no agenda at all. The same people keep on complaining when we do women and youth empowerment programs,” she said.
Achani said that her administration’s effort to give tenders to women and youth groups is giving her opponents sleepless nights.
“These people keep on opposing every initiative my government has put in place. We are inviting them to give their views so that we can implement in our budget proposals,” she added.
Government deputy spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga backed Achani governorship saying she has proven to the world that women are able to lead and initiate development programs for citizens.
She took stock of the bursary program that has seen thousands in schools saying Achani has made it easy for Kwale parents with children in school while dismissing those fighting the bursary Elimu ni Sasa initiatives.
Chidzuga said that various economic programs aimed at uplifting locals in the area are critical, urging residents to support Achani re-election as well as president William Ruto in 2027.
“We know it is because of education that we have a first Muslim governor. We will support you governor and don’t be distracted at all. Those who want the bursary to be taken back to the national government are misguided, “she noted.
Kwale governors’ political advisor Mshenga Ruga said that those opposing the Achani administration to stop meddling on matters of bursary saying that their views to scrap bursary is uncalled for.
Boga and Lung’anzi have maintained they are best placed to solve a lot of issues bedeviling kwale residents and vowed to continue pushing for a change by 2027.
