Who owns the new Coast Party, USPK?
The arrival of Umoja Summit Party of Kenya (USP) has sparked nostalgic memories of post-independence era but at the same time fears of ‘friendly fire’ from enemies within as the Coast region hurtle towards 2022 polls.
This political party, officially unveiled on February 10 at the Mombasa Club, comes at a time when there is a feeling the Coast region has been groping in the dark for a long time to find its identity and distinctiveness in the national political stage
The past and current political leadership, according to political pundits, is known for divisive politics, personal economic interests and community-based rivalries rather than for its unity of purpose and Coastal political agenda.
In fact, its recent calls for secession and resuscitation of the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani immediately after 2017 elections confirmed the self-centred egos of the elected leaders who had previously castigated the Mombasa Republican Council’s calls for the same.
“Coast politicians will continue to play the second fiddle to their upcountry colleagues until the time they decide to localise their politics to benefit the regional people instead of tapping national politics for their own selfish gains,” says one of the pundits contacted on phone.
For the new kid in the blocks, USP, more questions than answers have sprung up with many a people interested to know who are behind the political outfit, who are the funders and what’s its real motive for the region.
Speaking immediately after assuming offices as interim leaders, the chairman Matano Chengo, the secretary-general Naomi Cidi and the treasurer Mtana Mwaringa pledge to wrestle the two big parties – Jubilee and Nasa – influence in the region.
Mr Chengo, former Jubilee Mombasa chair, kicked-off this by alleging that the two coalitions have given the region a ‘raw’ deal when it comes to public appointments or national party positions.
“Marginalisation seems part and parcel of our story when it comes to political aspect at the national level. We must change this narrative and that is why USP has been born to salvage the situation,” he says the region must be at the high table of sharing national resources without playing the second fiddle to any region.
According to him key positions in the blue economy sector such as the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) that dominantly operate at the Coast are being run mostly by people from without due to the Jubilee Party influence.
Since hitting the public attention last month, talk making rounds is that the ‘new’ party is the result of influential politicians at the Coast who are allied to Deputy President William Ruto bankrolling it.
But in an interview, Mr Chengo dismissed this narrative saying USP is not under anybody’s influence because it is people-driven that will fund all its activities at local and national levels without relying on any political heavyweight elsewhere in the country.
“Such talks are meant to derail a good idea whose time has come. We will not succumb to blackmail from any quarters to curtail this movement whose sole target is unity the coastal region into a formidable force,” he says.
On her part, the secretary general told off those insinuating about the party saying they should take their time to know its local and national agendas before ‘pouring’ unsubstantiated claims of USP being somebody’s baby.
The former Kenya Airports Authority deputy managing director is categorical the party will rub many the wrong side but vowed no matter what they say they will not derail its vision and mission to unite communities within the region.
“This region has failed many times to speak with one voice and that is because of listening to external voices that do not want to see a united region knowing very well what this will mean to their interest here (Coast),” she adds.
The party welcomes the past and present leadership interested to use its ticket for the highest office in the land while urging what it considers region’s political heavyweights – Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi – to join the party.
But this seemingly selective target may backfire for the party’s mission to unite coastarians by overlooking the political clout of the four other governors of Kwale, Taita Taveta, Tana River and Lamu.
Again based on the interim officials’ lineup, according to political commentators, they seem all to hail from the low Coast, especially Kilifi, and this could be an impediment to attract other counties to join the party.
In fact, since the demise of the Kenya African Democratic Union (Kadu) led by the late Ronald Ngala in 1964 was dissolved and its member joined then ruling party, Kanu, no subsequent Coast-based parties have made any impact at the national or regional scene.
“Where is Shirikisho, Kadu-Asili, Republican Congress, Unity Party of Kenya, Chama cha Uzalendo or Devolution Party of Kenya? So could USP be another party dead on arrival?” poses a public policy expert who asked to be anonymous.
The proponents of the new party want not only to win the coastal bloc vote of the over 1.7 million votes but also wants to spread its tentacles far afield to other parts of Kenya where it is already attracting attention.
However, for the party to succeed, according to Pwani University lecturer Hassan Mwakimako it must sell a different policy and craft a strategy to win elections with focus on bagging seats in the County Assemblies particularly at its political base.
“The party has to come up with a clear identity and policy originating from the Coast residents after consultations. It will have a firm grip if it focuses its energy on winning county assembly seats instead of rushing for the national assembly, senate, governor and presidency positions,” the professor observes.
He notes that controlling the County Assemblies will ensure a firm footing that will propel its popularity and grip at the grassroots level with the possibility of propagating its ideology to all and sundry.
Prof Mwakimako suggests a bottom-up approach rather than top-down so as to make USP people-owned party to avoid the pitfalls of the likes of ODM, Jubilee, ANC or Wiper that are run like business enterprises.
“It is easy to register a political party but very difficult to nurturing. Umoja Summit should start from the bottom and not the top and aim at controlling the county assemblies,” he adds.
According to the USP officials they intend to fill the 16 party positions and carry out a membership drive across the country as required by law under its provisional registration certificate.
Already, the party has registered the required 1000 members in 13 counties out of the possible 24 to fulfill the conditions of the Political Parties Act.
Those seeking the party’s leadership position will be required to part with Sh50,000 for the nine executive seat and Sh20,000 for the 10 nonexecutive positions before facing a special vetting panel.
Immediately after the February 10th meeting in Mombasa, the interim team received 70 application forms from different 19 elective and nonelective seats to be filled on May 1st this year.
Saying the party should have been launched way back in 2017, Mr Chengo claims they have received requests to open offices in Kieni (Nyeri County) and Nairobi thus boosting their morale of the national outlook appeal.
Initially started as a social media movement, Umoja Summit Trust, the party came to fruition through the recommendation of the Umoja Summit’s Council of Elders the retired Mombasa ACK Bishop Julius Kalu, former Cabinet Minister Suleiman Shakombo, former outspoken Kaloleni MP Dr Chibule wa Tsuma and Kilifi Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation chair Ms Witness Tsuma.
Others supporting its formation are Shirikisho founder secretary general Mbwana Warakah (elder brother to former Cabinet Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere) among many former elected leaders in different political seats.
Tasked to craft the ‘Pwani Agenda’ and aspiration of the six counties is the Pwani University Professor Halimu Shauri who is acclaimed for championing the regional unity of purpose and economic commonwealth.
Commenting on the issue, Prof Shauri alleges that some political leaders feel their positions are threatened by the formation of USP which started as Umoja Summit Trust to champion a common agenda for the region.
“We want our elected leaders to be on board, but most of them are selfish and fear losing their positions. They have not been attending our meetings or embraced the idea. But we are forging a plan B in order to move forward in uniting our communities and eventually achieve our agenda,” he says in a recent interview.
The professor, who has served as the Summit’s advisor, adds that USP is a new addition to the basket of political parties in the region that are seeking to unite the people and rally them together for the 2022 polls.
In his view, the party is timely to unite the people because the Coast agenda cannot be carried in a vacuum but through getting honest leaders who can serve as glue for the people of this region to prosper socially, politically and economically.
Although separately the Kadu Asili national chairman Kombora Korokoro welcomed the formation of USP as a good idea, particularly in its efforts to unite the Coast people, however remained noncommittal on the issue of merging his party with it.
According to him the party is still operating under a provisional registration certificate and therefore cannot negotiate with other registered parties for a possible merger.
“We cannot accept to fold up because of an interim party,” he adds.
