Fresh Backing for President Ruto by Coast Broad-Based Brigade

By Caroline Katana

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Leaders have rallied residents behind President William Ruto’s broad-based government saying political cooperation has opened up greater opportunities for development and representation in the Coast region.

Speaking during a fundraising drive at Moyeni Girls Senior School in Kinango of Kwale County, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Sports, Youth and Creative Economy cabinet secretary Salim Mvurya, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, Likoni MP Mishi Mboko and Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago urged residents to support the government and increase voter registration ahead of the 2027 general election.

Wetang’ula said the broad-based government had brought different political formations together and demonstrated that every Kenyan should benefit from government regardless of their political affiliation.

“We want to see what the President has said: even if you did not vote for him, you are a Kenyan and you deserve to be considered and to benefit from development,” he said.

He highlighted Kwale’s mineral wealth saying communities living in resource-rich areas should benefit directly from the exploitation of natural resources.

“We will not allow foreigners to extract our minerals, take away the wealth and leave our communities with open pits,” he said.

The speaker said mineral revenues should be shared with local communities, county governments and the national government to support development.

He cited fisheries, tourism and the development of Shimoni as key economic opportunities for Kwale and the wider region.

“This county of Kwale, in the next five to ten years, you will be one of the richest counties in Kenya because of your minerals.”

Mvurya said the broad-based arrangement had strengthened the region’s representation in government and created an opportunity for leaders to work together on development.

He cited the Kwale-Kinango-Samburu Road, Mwache Dam, electricity connections, Kinango Market and other government projects as examples of investments underway in the county.

“This road was discussed in 1978. It became a discussion in 1983. The fifth President is the one building this road,” he said.

He cited the government’s recruitment of 100,000 teachers over three years with an additional 24,000 teachers provided for in the current budget.

The CS urged coastal residents to increase voter registration, saying the region needed to translate its population into greater political influence.

“We must prove those who claim the Coast has no voting strength wrong by registering in large numbers and participating in elections.”

Governor Fatuma Achani echoed the call for increased voter registration saying the Coast should raise its numbers from an estimated 2.9 million to about four million.

The speaker, similarly, urged eligible Kenyans to acquire identification documents and register as voters, warning that failure to participate in elections could weaken their political influence.

“Bad leaders are elected by good people who do not vote,” he said.

The leaders also endorsed Ruto for a second term with CS Mvurya calling on coastal residents to ensure no votes were lost in the next election.

“We are saying that next year, no vote should be lost. Every vote should be cast for William Samoei Ruto,” he said.

Senator Jackson Mandago, who also addressed the gathering, defended the broad-based government and urged political leaders to focus on policies that would move Kenya forward.

“We are in a broad-based government. There is no need for divisions in this country because of politics,” he said.

The senator challenged opposition politicians to explain their alternative plans to Kenyans rather than simply opposing government programmes.

“If you want to do politics, do politics that takes Kenya forward. Explain to Kenyans what you will do.”

The leaders spoke during a fundraising drive hosted by Kinango MP Samuel Gonzi Rai at Moyeni Girls senior School where more than Ksh2 million was contributed.