By S, KNA
Coast region Members of Parliament have declared they will not be sidelined in ongoing negotiations between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) on a pre-election coalition, insisting on full representation at the negotiation table.
Speaking to the press in Mombasa, the legislators, who are part of the Coast Parliamentary Group, endorsed the ongoing negotiations while calling for the full inclusion of Coastal leaders in the talks to safeguard regional development and political interests.
The Coast Parliamentary Group is a caucus of MPs and Senators from Kenya’s six coastal counties of Lamu, Tana River, Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale, and Taita Taveta, that advocates for regional development, better service delivery, and increased bargaining power.
The group focuses on socio-economic and development issues including the blue economy, infrastructure, and economic empowerment of coastal residents.
Kilifi Women Representative, Getrude Mbeyu, emphasized the importance of regional inclusion in the discussions.
“As a group, we support the negotiations between ODM and UDA on a pre-election alliance. However, the Coast region must be on the table when negotiations and discussions are being held. On matters of development and politics, our leaders must be included. We will not be left out. We want to be involved, not in party lines but as a region,” she said.
Likoni MP, Mishi Mboko, an ODM member, echoed the call for representation while reaffirming her backing for the broad-based government.
“Today we are gathered here with leaders from the Coast region. We support the broad-based government, and as an ODM member, I want to affirm and support the decision by the Central Management Committee. However, it is a must that people from the Coast region should be well represented in the talks and negotiations. We shall not be left out; we shall be there on the table,” Mboko stated.
Matuga MP, Kassim Tandaza, expressed support for President William Ruto’s second term bid while demanding equitable inclusion and recognition for the Coast in any future arrangements.
“We are demanding that Coast leaders be on the table when the discussions are ongoing. We support the President’s two-term bid, and it is high time the coastal people are recognized and awarded what rightfully belongs to them,” Tandaza said.
Taveta MP, John Bwire, used a popular metaphor to underline the region’s position.
“As Coast leaders, we shall be on the table and not on the menu. We support the President’s two-term bid, however, on other issues, we must have our people on the table and not on the menu,” Bwire asserted.
Kilifi South MP, Ken Chonga, specifically called for the inclusion of Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho in the negotiation team.
“Within the ODM party members that will be involved in negotiations with UDA, Blue Economy CS, Ali Hassan Joho, must also be present. The Coast region has contributed more, and there cannot be ODM without the Coast region. We also want to assure all that from Kiunga in Lamu to the hills of Taita Taveta, it is going to be a broad-based victory,” Chonga said.
Ganze MP, Kenneth Kazungu Katana, reiterated the need for Coast representation across all levels of government.
“We support the President on his second-term bid. We want the Coastal agenda to be included in the negotiations. In the committee, be it political, bureaucratic, or technocratic, we want leaders from the Coast region to be included,” he said.
The parliamentary group’s position comes shortly after the ODM Central Management Committee met in Vipingo and agreed to begin formal negotiations with UDA on a pre-election agreement ahead of the 2027 General Election.
