Mombasa elders pledge to rally Coast communities behind Raila presidential bid

Elders from the six sub-counties in Mombasa County have unanimously agreed to marshal their communities behind ODM leader Raila Odinga ahead of the 2022 general elections.

This came out of the Mombasa Declaration at Sheikh Khalifa Hall in Mombasa Town where over 10,000 elders from Nyali, Mvita, Changamwe, Likoni, Jomvu, and Nyali Sub-counties identified Raila as the only presidential hopeful who truly has the interest of the Coastal people at heart.

They said it would be prudent to support him to achieve his dream of leading Kenya.

According to the elders, Raila has been championing for the people of the Coastal region over the years.

They said devolution, which is Raila’s brainchild has resolved some pertinent issues they have faced in the past such as landlessness and marginalization.

The humbled ODM leader responded to the elders and said the issues facing the Coastal region are unique and can only be fixed by someone who understands them.

He said the region is lucky to have many natural resources and the residents should benefit by them

“This is a region blessed with many natural resources, we want the people of the Coast to benefit from them and build their economy and that of the country,” Raila said.

Raila reiterated that the issue of squatters has been upsetting for many years since independence.

He lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for working tirelessly to resolve the issue.

Raila promised if he was elected to succeed Uhuru, he would continue with his legacy to ensure the people of the region no longer suffer.

He said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure all Kenyans live good lives and share resources equally.

“If elected President to succeed him, I will pick from where he would have left to ensure the people of this region suffer no more, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure all Kenyans live a good life and share the National cake equally,” Raila said.

Raila said his agenda is to have every child gets educated to the highest level of education under Universal Free Education.

He said that would be achievable with proper management of resources.

The former Prime Minister also expressed his concerns over the fact that to this date people still get detained in hospitals over unpaid bills.

He said that has to end and expectant mothers do not also have to walk long distances to give birth. He said there is the vision, will and solution to the problems in the health sector.

“We have the vision, the will and the solution to this problem. Expectant mothers will no longer have to walk for long distances to bring new life in the world, we have to fix our health sector and the time is now,” he said.

Raila said Kenya has to make good use of the natural resources and gave an example of the Indian Ocean, which he said can benefit the residents through tourism.

“That is why we are talking about the blue economy, and we have to make good use of the natural resources available here to build our economy and create more employment opportunities,” Raila said.

The ODM leader called upon all Kenyans to embrace unity regardless of political differences pointing out the fact that no country can prosper in the absence of unity.

“Unity is what I will continue preaching. We have to live with one another regardless of our political differences,” the former Premier said.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho said he will work closely with other leaders from the region and assured Raila of the support of the Coastal people.

“As the people of Mombasa, we are fully behind you and we shall extend this to other parts of the region,’ Joho said.

He added Raila has stood with the people of the region championing for their rights and needs while he was in the opposition and even when he was in government.

Joho said Raila understands the issues of the people from the coastal region because he has mastered the art of learning and understanding problems facing Kenyans.

“Raila understands our issues more than any other person because he has mastered the art of learning and understanding the problems facing Kenyans and given a chance he will solve them,” said Joho.

Mvita Member of Parliament Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir said the Coastal people want Raila to become the 5th President and they have to spread the truth about him.

He also echoed Joho’s remarks and said the people of Mombasa are fully behind Raila’s bid for the presidency and they will popularise his bid across the region.

The meeting was attended by among other Coastal leaders Hassan Joho, Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir, Badi Twaib, Sheikh Juma Ngao, Omar Mwinyi, Mishi Mboko among others.