New Political Battles Grip Coast as Leaders Split Between BBG and Home Grown Parties

By Mwakwaya Raymond

As the broad based drums seem to be fading out within the Coast region, a new rhythm that now roots for homegrown political parties is picking speed.

This comes as a surprise not only to the broad based government crusaders, but also for homegrown party loyalists who believe they are treading on safe grounds.

Many are of the view that since the inception of the broad-based government, the crusaders have been in a slumber with false assumptions that they are most secure in their positions for having supported the ODM leader the late Raila Amollo Odinga, from 2022 up to the time of his demise in mid September 2025.

Following his demise, many who relied on him to win elections at their jurisdictions were literary caught with pants down, and they are lost on what to do come 2027 general election. Whoever thought that Raila political sycophants are only in ODM, he or she is mistaken, if the uncertainty gripping fringe parties that backed BBG is anything to go by.

The broad-based crusaders assumed the political matrix was solved long before the signing of the broad based memorandum between the ruling party and ODM, one of the Azimio Kenya One Alliance.

Little did they know that a coin still retains its two sides in spite of any condition or position, and that the second side was yet to be flicked on.

The homegrown party loyalists also thought they were sailing in safe havens courtesy of the broad-based government as they were pioneers in the government.

The death of Odinga has since opened a new chapter for them, as they believe it was the right time to flick the coin and adopt the contents of the other side.

Though the chorus of the homegrown party politics started at a low tone, the loyalists seem to have mastered a way of winning more souls to their sanctuary.

They are said to be penetrating a deep interior to the region and capturing attention and ears of the broad-based crusaders.

Now it is evident that the broad-based crusaders can no longer sleep easy, for they cannot withstand the chorus forcing them to engage a combat gear.

First to hit the table is the newly appointed principal secretary Fikirini Jacobs, one of the product of broad-based arrangement. He is among those who are currently fed up with the homegrown party slogans and cannot stomach the narratives, as they are being pushed through their throats by the loyalists.

One of the adamant loyalists of the homegrown party politics is the former cabinet secretary Aisha Jumwa, who is now the Chairperson of Kenya Roads Board.

Jumwa’s abrupt about turn from the broad-based van to the new outfit of a homegrown party has since left many mouths agape. They are still trying to understand what had necessitated her bold step — she has literally jumped from United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to Pamoja African Alliance (PAA), the party of Amason Kingi, the Speaker of the Senate.

They say politics is about interests. Most likely her interests are now well looked into than where she was before.

Fikirini Jacobs, while addressing mourners at the burial of the mother of former Malindi MP Willy Mtengo at Msabaha in Kilifi County, could not hold back his sentiments on the fast moving homegrown party politics narrative; he termed it as misleading and uncalled for campaign.

Despite being at a solemn function, the burial of a former prominent Councillor Mama Patience Kahonzi Nguma, he opted to break the ice on what he thinks is the best way forward for the Coastal communities.

Not mincing his words, Fikirini said: “I want to tell those championing for the homegrown party politics not to make a mistake of running away from the government to go build a house that is not sure of capturing power. By the way, even you mama Aisha, you’re the chairperson of the Kenya Roads Board because of the broad-based government. How do you dare to step foot out of an already running government to an amorphous grouping?”

His sentiments were casually backed by an upcoming politician Kalama Wehu, who recently lost the Magarini by elections to Harry Kombe. He managed to pull 227 votes against more than 18,000 votes garnered by Harry Kombe.

Kalama Wehu claims he does not believe in party politics though in the last general elections he vied through the PAA party, but what transpired later on for him to change his stand on the party could make a good fodder for another day.

Senate speaker Amason Jefwa Kingi, who is the party leader of PAA, in his quick rejoinder lashed out at those crusading for broad-based especially when they do so at burial ceremonies.

“It’s very unfair of you when you pump political shenanigans to innocent mourners who are grieving in pain for the loss of their loved one,” he said.

However, he passionately expressed himself on the homegrown party politics saying: “You people you don’t know what power means. You can’t claim to be powerful when you have very few legislators while other parties command large numbers of the same.”

The speaker said the bargaining power of a party was vested in the number of legislators a party has.

He said rallying behind PAA is a worthy cause arguing that PAA comprised the best means of freeing the Coast Region from the hands of political brokers.

“Being in PAA is not an outdated fashion kind of politics,” he added.

He wants the Coast region to rally behind his PAA before making any decision to join any other formation in the name of coalition.

Though Kilifi governor Gideon Mung’aro seems to be comfortable in the broad-based setup, he wants leaders to give priority to Kenyans by serving them to their satisfaction.

“There’s time for everything; I can’t understand why you guys are jumping the gun even before the last whistle is blown.”

In Mombasa, blue economy cabinet secretary Hassan Ali Joho is said to be championing the broad-based arrangement as he is a beneficiary of it.

Those who are for it would definitely receive political support from his entire empire.

Kingi’s (with his Mijikenda communities) eagerness to clinch power could differ with the stand of Hassan Joho, who is likely to push one of his own to the county top seat.

This scenario could be a replica of what was witnessed in Kisauni where the late minister Emmanuel Karisa Maitha wanted to unseat the then MP Said Hemed.

Politics of religion, and by extension that of the Arab community versus the Mijikenda communities is shaping up. Many feel that time has come for the Mijikenda community to come together and form a Unity of purpose to reclaim power in Mombasa and the large coast region.

They complain of being given raw deal despite playing a pivotal role of helping whoever ascends to power.

They point out whereas Hassan Joho first came with Hezel Katana as his deputy during his first term as Governor, the two parted ways even before he had completed his first term of office as the Governor.

Joho dropped her for a university don, Dr Edward Kingi. This too was shortlived; Kingi was unceremoniously dropped the moment he declared that he would go for the top most seat in the county.

The incumbent, deputy Francis Thoya, a journalist by profession seems not to be comfortable working under governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir.

Those who know Thoya and his style of leadership claim his popularity and public appearance has drastically gone down despite him being a go-getter, a trait that has earned him a nickname Magufuli! But little has so far come out of him.

Thoya, was initially at the helm of Environment Department as the County Executive Member Committee, but that was reshuffled for an invisible portfolio.

Once, governor Nassir reprimanded a person caught helping himself along the streets. “Wewe mbona unakojoa kwa barabara” (Why do you answer the call of nature along the streets?) Many have interpreted the incident as a sign of deterioration of the sanitation services in the county.

The call by a section of Mijikenda to form a unity of purpose could become a force to reckon with only if prominent Mijikenda personalities bury their differences and back up the call.

It’s not clear who they want to appoint as the spokesperson but many think the Mijikenda torch bearer is likely to come from Kilifi County where seven of the nine tribes reside.