Elected leaders in Kilifi County have thrown their weight behind Governor Gideon Mung’aro, terming him as development oriented and a regional kingpin. 

The move came days after Kenya Roads Board chairperson Aisha Jumwa invited Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and a host of coastal leaders to her homecoming party held at the Msabaha grounds in Ganda ward, Malindi Sub County. 

During Jumwa’s event on Sunday, all elected and non-elected leaders in Kilifi County skipped the event save for Rabai MP Kenga Mupe and Malindi town ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Rashid Odhiambo. 

However, speaking at Kwa Ndara village in Chonyi Sub County during the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of an Ksh 86 million Chonyi Deputy County Commissioner’s (DCC) office and Huduma center on Thursday, all leaders present praised Mung’aro for his development agenda that has seen the county rankings improve to the top ten in the country.

“We from Rabai constituency, we’ve made up our minds that we will walk with our Governor Gideon Mung’aro politically even after completing his two terms in 2032,” said Mupe who also attended Jumwa’s homecoming. 

Meanwhile, Kilifi Woman Representative Getrude Mbeyu challenged those who were eying to oust Mung’aro for a political duel, terming them as detractors of development. 

“When you are in Mung’aro’s team you are automatically in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party and three MPs including Rabai MP Kenga Mupe and Kenneth Kazungu of PAA and Owen Baya of UDA are all decamping to ODM so that we can move together in our political journey,” she said. 

Additionally, Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi urged residents to emulate people of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties who were now rallying behind Governor George Natembea. 

“I think all of us have heard about a Governor in Western Kenya by the name Natembea who is causing political ripples in that region and I want you people of Kilifi to also rally behind Mung’aro so that we can move forward as a team,” she said. 

Mung’aro on his part said that coalescing in ODM will make the region have political strength and invited all elected and non-elected leaders including residents to join the party. 

“Our ODM team is strong and all leaders are now being attracted to the party. We want all leaders to work together so that we can develop our county and our region,” he said. 

Written by Alphonce Gari, TV47 correspondent