26/12/2025
WITHOUT THE GOODWILL, NEITHER A REGIONAL PARTY NOR OUR (LACK OF) PARTICIPATION SHALL MATTER!
With the rise of briefcase parties thinly veiled as "Regional Parties" representing ethnic communities in national political negotiations, I am almost certain that Coast has the wrong political kingpins whose relevance at the National Scale has attained the rigor mortis phase.
Personally, I am not against the idea of creating, promoting and sustaining a community-based political party. I am not against the idea of cooperating with my local leaders to support homegrown political parties. I am not against the idea of our local parties strengthening themselves by forming national coalitions with any other Regional parties for the unity of purpose. I believe in good intentions that holistically propel our Communities to a better socioeconomic status. If a homegrown political party can effectively work that magic out, so be it. I'll be in the frontline with the highest voice to ensure the masses see the sense.
For now, what we are witnessing is absolute balderdash.
Some pertinent facts need to be addressed here.
1. Coast, since the 2002 NARC Campaigns has never contributed a significant amount of votes for all successive regimes. We've been predominantly an opposition stronghold courtesy of the belief that we're systemically marginalized by both the former regimes and the incumbents. With or without votes from Coast, Kenya has successfully installed presidents courtesy of the pivotal regions of Rift Valley, Nairobi, Central, Upper Eastern, North Eastern, Western and a significant section of Nyanza (Kisii, Suba & Kuria Communities).
Our mindset therefore is/has been permanently conditioned to vote for an Opposition outfit. It's like trying to convince a monkey that grapes are sweeter than bananas.
2. Coast has never run short of homegrown parties since The Nyayo Era. From the legendary parties of Kadu Asili, IPK and Shirikisho to the modern parties of Republican Congress and PAA. We have not thought of consolidating these entities into just one strong party or coalition worth of Regional recognition and national significance. Most if not all of them ended up folding in favour of the big fish. PAA has already been overshadowed by UDA under Kenya Kwanza Administration. Unless it pulls out of this marriage, its prominence in Kenya Kwanza cannot outshine UDA today or in the foreseeable future.
3. There could be a glaring fault with our Constitutional Democracy Installations that we chose to sweep under the rug. Either the Constitution itself, Parliament or the President - or all of them - are a bedrock of the monumental problems when it comes to equitable distribution of the National Cake. The aforementioned are believed to be symbols of national unity and as such, they are expected to reflect fairness in terms of governance and policies attributed to infrastructural developments, government procurement opportunities, state job distribution, national budgetary allocations, economic and industrialization growth and sustainability and cultural heritage promotion.
If these and similar aspects are what inform the need to have a home-based party, then I guess we're prescribing the wrong treatment to a chronic problem. It's like stitching the a**s to control episodes of diarrhoea. We need to address the deficiencies of our constitutional and governance systems, not prescribing home-based parties only fabricated to emotionally blackmail the president.
4. What became of JKP (Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani)- a regional Economic Bloc authored to push for the realization of economic and industrial initiatives for the six Coastal Counties? Who has felt any significant impact towards the economic emancipation of the Coast and specifically Kilifi? What of the Coast Parliamentary Group at the National Assembly? Any tangible negotiations that this group has successfully achieved for the benefit of the Coastal Electorates?
In a nutshell, we don't lack the avenues to back our common interests as Coastal Electorates. What we lack is the goodwill by the leadership to bring about the desired results.
5. We lack clarity any time we are promoting a locally based party as leaders; and the electorates feel tossed around like a ragdoll. The electorates are only made to unquestionably cheer a swing this way and a stride that way by their leaders just for a branded cap, scarf and t-shirt without a clear explanation on how they stand to benefit beyond the General Elections.
I think our political leaders have a duty to demystify their own intentions prior to seeking community support for their decisions. That's a true reflection of our internal democracy.
Otherwise, it will be ridiculous when the chickens finally come home to roost.
