ODM PUSH AND PULL AT THE COAST.

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has been Stripped off from his position as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chairperson in the county,this has been confirmed in an exclusive Interview  with the ODM’s Party Leader Raila Odinga.

Ganze Mp Teddy Mwambire has replaced him in an acting capacity.Kingi has been in the recent past forefronting a formation of a regional coastal party that would bring on board politicians from the region in a bid to have a big voice in the 2022 General Election.

The former Premier has stated that Kingi has been enjoying support from wananchi because of his affiliation to him {Odinga} and he is not the first politician to betray him.This is the first time the former premier has crictised the Govener publicly.

“I have no personal problem with Kingi,If he wants to leave, he is free to do so. I have already asked ODM officials in Kilifi to ratify the decision appointing Teddy Mwambire as the interim chairperson.”said Odinga.

The governor who is on his second term has been vouchering for a regional party that would send representatives to the big boys’ negotiating table when it comes to discussing national politics.

Earlier this year Kingi declared his stance stating that he would lead the coastal region into a new political outfit. The governor was joined by a section of leaders from the coastal region who backed the idea.

“The people in the region are tired of being treated like second class citizens during every poll and we demand to be recognized as we have more than 1.7 million registered voters,” Kingi stated.

He further declared a five-month deadline for the formation of the new political party which lapsed in June 2021.

Kingi’s efforts failed after leaders of three political outfits in the region refused to collapse their parties in favor of one coastal political party.

In Kilifi County,MPs Aisha Jumwa and her Kilifi North counterpart Owen Baya, are some of the leaders who have since jolted out from the ODM party and shifted their loyalty to Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party.

However Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo and Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi remain loyal to ODM, saying the party is still popular in the county.

During a BBI sensatinzation campaign early March 3 this year,in Ganze,Kilifi County, Governor Kingi challenged Odinga to explain why he was “opposed to the idea of Coastal leaders forming a joint party”.

Kingi further clarified that the region was not forming a regional party but an alliance of already-registered national parties dedicated to uplifting the Coast.