Group backs Mwakwere in G7 turf war

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PHOTO | FILE A Muslim group came out in support of Environment minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere as the region’s point man. 

By DANIEL NYASSY dnyassy@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, November 17  2012 at  00:30

IN SUMMARY

• Ngao says Environment minister has more clout than Mvita MP because he heads the largest community in the area; other leaders blame rivalry on fight for campaign cash Story P4
• Muslim group insists minister should be spokesman for coast region as he is leader of the majority Mijikenda

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The G7 Alliance’s political war of supremacy in the coast region intensified on Friday when a Muslim group came out in support of Environment minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere as the region’s point man.

The Kenya National Muslims Advisory Council (Kemnac) said Mr Mwakwere, as the leader of the larger Mijikenda community, was the right spokesman for the region.

Last week, Mvita MP Najib Balala appeared to have taken a higher position in the G7 Alliance at the expense of Mr Mwakwere and Medical Services assistant minister Mr Kazungu Kambi.

Sheikh Juma Ngao, the Kemnac national chairman, yesterday insisted any political party wishing to form an alliance with coastal leaders would have to talk to leaders from majority communities.

The Kemnac chairman’s position sharply differed with that taken by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) Coast chairman Sheikh Muhdhar Khitamy, who had earlier said the Balala-Mwakwere turf war was over the control of campaign money.

“I totally disagree with Khitamy. The turf war is bigger than that. It aims to perpetrate the dominance of a certain community on the coastal resources and leadership,” said Sheikh Ngao. “It is over the religious, social, economic and political power that has gone on for over 50 years.”

Mr Ngao said if Mr Mwakwere or Mr Kambi were not dully recognised in the G7 Alliance arrangement, the coast region would abandon it.

“Mwakwere is leader of the majority Mijikenda community. He should be dully recognised not only in G7 but in any political alliance with the coast region,” said Sheikh Ngao.

“We shall not accept the obvious scheme of a certain community reigning supreme over us. Such days are over. The Mijikenda cannot play second fiddle.”

Nominated MP Shakila Abdalla had earlier dismissed the turf war as irrelevant saying it did not matter who belonged to which party. The coast people’s interest, she said, was in an individual’s track record.
Sheikh Ngao said leaders from the region could no longer ride on “Muslim unity or coast unity” to rule over others.

Since last week, coast leaders have been sharply divided over the inclusion of Mr Balala in the G7 Alliance.

Supporters and rivals of Mr Balala have traded accusations of incitement, with each camp claiming to be speaking for the region.

Mr Mwakwere and Kambi were upset with the inclusion of the Mvita MP and threatened to lead the Mijikenda out of the alliance.

“We as Mijikenda leaders will not accept Mr Balala to be the coast leader in the G7 political pact. We cannot accept to play second fiddle, not any more,” said Mr Kambi.

He asked Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr William Ruto to pick a Mijikenda for the job.

Mr Mwakwere said Kaya elders had warned him against working with Mr Balala in any coalition. “We were ordered by Kaya elders and coastal people that we must not accept Balala in G7 or any political alliance,” he said.

However, Mr Balala sought to allay fears that he had taken over the roles of his two rivals.

He was categorical that he never joined the political grouping to take a seat that belonged to the leaders.

“I have not come here (G7 Alliance) to take anybody’s seat. There is enough room for everyone in the alliance, which is trying hard to form the next government,” he said.