Kwale to play host to Ruto Saturday amid speculation

Deputy President William Ruto

By Tobias Chanji

KENYA: Kwale County will host Deputy President William Ruto Saturday, a tour pundits say is an attempt by the Jubilee coalition to claw up support in a region it faired dismally in the March 4General Election.

Ruto’s visit will be followed closely by that of the South Coast by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The two are expected to meet local leaders to discuss Kwale’s troubled mining sector.

Another agenda

Analysts believe Jubilee is targeting Coast and Western MPs in CORD to achieve a two-thirds majority in Parliament and point out that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is determined to counterJubilee’s efforts.

Coast Interfaith Group Chairman Paul Selel says he believes Ruto and Uhuru are visiting the region “because one is president and the other deputy president, and therefore people should not read much,” but warns that the two leaders could be having another agenda.

“They are trying to woo more MPs to their side,” says the priest, who cites Ruto’s forays to Western.

Besides chronic insecurity, Kwale has acquired new significance following the discovery of huge mineral deposits in an area with complex land problems, which most locals blame on founding President Jomo Kenyatta’s regime.

Ironically, Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has cancelled a mining licence for a firm with Canadian links that was to commence operations later this year.

Balala denies cancelling the licence under pressure to play politics or “softening the ground for Chinese investors” after cancelling Cortec Kenya’s licence. Coincidentally, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya of CORD, who has invited Ruto, has also opposed Cortec’s licence but has not spoken since Balala’s decree halting the firm’s operations.

The land problem in Kwale and other parts of Coast is one of the issues that cost Jubilee votes in the region, according to analysts, who believe TNA and URP lacked the will to solve these matters. Separatist politics associated with the Kwale-based Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) swayed many people from the March vote, dealing a blow to CORD, which is more dominant there.

Many CORD politicians allege that MRC activities benefited Jubilee and point out public ties between Jubilee leaders and those of MRC.

It is not clear if MRC leaders who have called for talks with Uhuru will meet the two leaders in public or private during the visit.

Jubilee performed badly in this area despite the efforts of high profile former minister and Matuga MP Chirau Ali Mwakwere who lost the March 4 senatorial race to Boy Juma Boy of ODM Many local URP activists were betrayed by failure of the Jubilee regime to nominate Mwakwere to Cabinet, especially following the naming of his rival Najib Balala of Mombasa to Cabinet.

“I have no problem about who is named to the Cabinet and I have no hard feelings because if I complain I will be seen as fighting some people,” said Mwakwere in a recent interview. Despite public displays of happiness, Mwakwere has been a rare figure in Kwale after his defeat.

Meanwhile, his supporters allege Ruto and Uhuru could be looking for new point-men in the region, including targeting some CORD leaders.

Insiders close to Jubilee indicate Jubilee leaders failed to campaign for Uhuru in the March poll and that the old guard cannot effectively cultivate support for the president and his deputy.

Friday, Mvurya, who missed a trip for governors to the US with CORD leader Raila Odinga, admitted that he is behind Ruto’s tour but denies warming up toJubilee.

“I am the one who invited Ruto because he is my friend and this is a development trip. There is no politics involved.” But many analysts believe Ruto is playing politics to arm-twist Kwale with its vast mineral wealth to Jubilee’s side.

“Right now Kwale is a pace-setter as many things are happening in the County and Jubilee and CORD will want to be seen working in conjunction with the County. This is a Cord zone and they will want to be initiating projects so that by 2017 they can endear themselves to the residents. Whether we like it or not we will be forced to work with them,” says Nicholas Zani, a local politician.