Coast leaders have urged residents of Kwale County to acquire national identity cards and register as voters, saying increased civic participation would strengthen the region’s voice in national development while sustaining ongoing government investments in infrastructure, water, land reforms and the blue economy.
Speaking during a public meeting in Matuga in Kwale County, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Hassan Ali Joho said Coast residents should view politics as a tool for development and historical justice rather than division.
Joho said the region had supported leaders who championed the fight against historical injustices for many years but noted that the current administration had taken concrete steps to address long-standing challenges facing the Coast.
“Politics is not a game; politics is about development. We must judge leadership by what it delivers to our people,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary cited major investments in the blue economy, fisheries, transport infrastructure and land reforms, including Sh3.3 billion for fisheries programmes, Sh820 million for fish landing sites, Sh2.7 billion for the Shimoni Port project and Sh1.8 billion for a maritime and blue economy training institution.
He also praised the Kenya Kwanza government’s land reform programme, saying billions of shillings had been allocated to purchase privately owned land and issue title deeds to communities that had occupied the land for generations.
“For the first time, the government has set aside billions of shillings to buy privately owned land and return it to our people through title deeds. That is why we believe this administration is correcting historical injustices,” he said.
Joho urged residents to ensure every eligible person obtains an identity card and registers as a voter so that the Coast region can strengthen its influence in national decision-making.
Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Salim Mvurya said leaders from the Coast had reviewed the region’s development record and concluded that the current administration had delivered more projects than previous governments.
Mvurya highlighted the ongoing tarmacking of the Kinango-Kwale road, the construction of the Shimoni Port, affordable housing projects, electricity connectivity programmes and the expansion of the Mwache Dam project.
“For the first time, we are discussing projects that people in other parts of the country have enjoyed for years. Today Kwale is receiving roads, markets, housing projects and major investments that place the Coast at the centre of national development,” he said.
Mvurya added that the government had allocated funds to purchase land from private owners for resettlement of local communities and had also recognized village elders through government support programmes.
He called on residents to vote as a united regional bloc in future elections, saying a larger voter turnout would give the Coast greater bargaining power.
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani said the county had witnessed significant progress in infrastructure and land reforms under President William Ruto’s administration.
She cited the Samburu-Kinango-Kwale road, the Kinango-Kwale road, the Funzi road project and the Mwachade Bridge as some of the projects that had received government funding and were either completed or ongoing.
“When President Ruto was Deputy President, one of the commitments we agreed on was the construction of the Samburu-Kinango-Kwale road, and today we are seeing those promises being fulfilled,” she said.
Achani said the government had also begun a programme to identify and purchase land occupied by large landowners so that it could be returned to local squatters.
“That process has already started, and some parcels have already been acquired. Our people have waited for this for many years,” she said.
The governor urged residents to become ambassadors in their villages by encouraging eligible citizens to obtain identity cards and register as voters.
Kwale County Commissioner David Rotich said more than 10,000 national identity cards remained uncollected in registration offices across the county.
Rotich appealed to residents who had applied for the document to collect them and proceed with voter registration.
“We have over 10,000 identity cards that have already been processed and are waiting to be collected. We appeal to those who applied to pick them up, register as voters and participate in choosing leaders who will advance development,” he said.
The leaders urged residents to spread the message within their communities and ensure all eligible citizens obtain identity cards and register as voters ahead of future electoral exercises.
By Chari Suche
