Kenya Insights

Tag: Coast

  • Coast Top Leaders Skips Ruto’s Tour

    Coast Top Leaders Skips Ruto’s Tour

    Kenya’s Coast leaders have started deserting DP Ruto and his entire Tanga tanga movement as seen in his recent five days coast tour. Top leaders from the Coast were missing in the entire Deputy President William Ruto’s visit to the region.

    Initially, DP Ruto would attract a huge following of leaders at some instances he would have more than 15 MPs in a single rally but things seem to have turned out awful to his battalion as only a handful of political non-viable leaders are seen following him even as he tours the county launching government-sponsored projects.

    Dr. Ruto was seen to have made inroads in the region as he enjoyed the support of several politicians, including tens of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislators led by Coast Parliamentary Group chairman Suleiman Dori. In his earlier tours, the legislators would take turns to declare their support for Dr. Ruto’s presidential bid ahead of 2022 as they warmed up to him. Matters seemed to have changed on his current visit.

    On Saturday, Dr. Ruto’s ally, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, did not participate in the DP’s tour of the county. The only MPs present were Lunga Lunga’s Khatib Mwashetani, Malindi’s Aisha Jumwa, and Lamu East’s Sharif Athman.

    According to sources allied to Governor Mvurya, said that the governor failed to show up because he had not been involved in inviting the DP, and therefore felt left out.

    “It is all about politics. And we are aware that the Deputy President was invited by Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani and this might have angered the governor. The governor has endorsed his deputy Fatuma Achani, and by virtue of attending the functions could have been seen as endorsing Mr. Mwashetani,” said the source.

    Another missing legislature was Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori who sources alleged that he has been missing because he has been sick for a while now.

    However, on Friday, the second day of his five-day tour during which Dr. Ruto visited Kilifi, had only Seven leaders. The MPs who attended the Kilifi function were Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, Said Haribae (Galole), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga), nominated Senator Christine Zawadi, Ali Wario (Bura), Rehema Hassan (Tana River), Shariff Athman (Lamu East), Badi Twalib (Jomvu) and Kaloleni MP Paul Katana.

    Things are for sure not going well for the son of the charcoal-burner and a former chicken seller. Recently, His candidate in Kibra by-elections was canceled on election fraud allegations and documents forgery. Is this the way Ruto wants to handle his way into the power now?

  • CS Matiang’i Reshuffles Top Police Bosses As War On Narcotics In Coast Region Surges

    CS Matiang’i Reshuffles Top Police Bosses As War On Narcotics In Coast Region Surges

    The Intensified war on Narcotics and other hard drugs in Kenya’s coastal region has been taken a notch higher as the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has ordered and led a reshuffle of top security bosses in the region.

    Those reshuffled are Coast Regional Police Commander Marcus Ocholla, County Police Commander Johnston Ipara and County Commissioner Evans Achoki.

    Mr. Ocholla will be replaced by the current Western Region Police Boss Rashid Yakub from the Administration Police (AP) unit which has since been merged with the Kenya Police.

    Ocholla has tenure has been cut short after serving as the coast region commander for only 8 months. He was appointed in mid-January this year when he was serving in the Eastern region.

    Mr. Ipara, who last week was leading a search at wanted drug trafficking suspect Ali Punjani’s palatial residence, has been moved to Uasin Gishu where he will take over from Mr. Augustine Nthumbi.

    Mr. Ipara was the only Police Boss who was not affected by the January reshuffle that saw many top Police officials moved and reposted. Ipara has served for three years as the Mombasa county police commander.

    Meanwhile, Mr Achoki who has also served as the Mombasa county security committee chairman for close to four years has also been moved. He will now be in Marsabit County.

    A source speaking to the media has stated that the reshuffle led by CS Matiang’i comes amid failure by the senior security officials to deal with the increased Narcotics and other hard drug menaces.

    “Last week’s raids have been seen as some hullabaloo because not a single big person was taken to court and charged over the drugs-related case,” a source told media 

    The reshuffle might be a plot twist from the government to avoid direct blame and public cussing after the police who, over last week conducted a crackdown and ransacked Punjani’s house and also that of Bofu Ward MCA Ahmed Salama, and left without any concrete  evidence that has since seen the unconditional release of Mr. Salama, three foreigners and Ali Punjani’s wife Karka Sushmija.

    Another source speaking to the media stated that  Ipara was moved because he took journalists to record an active Police raid and led a shoddy operation at Ali Punjani’s house.

    “He was really attacked over that move since it was only seen as a public relations exercise meant to put across Punjani as a good man,” said the source.

    During his 5 days tour in the Coast region CS Matiang’i said the drug trade has been a thorny issue in the region stating that that the government would move a step further, even if it is looking among those in the security detail.

    Dr Matiang’i visited the coast five days after a terror gang attack in Bamburi which he said was influenced by drugs trafficking. The CS said drugs were responsible for the increase of killer gangs terrorising the residents. At least 13 people were injured during the Bamburi attack.