Why Uhuru is keen to win Malindi by-election

The Jubilee Coalition is out to prove it can win votes at the Coast ahead of the 2017 general election by clinching the Malindi parliamentary seat in the March 7 by-election.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto are said to be following every move in the Malindi campaigns through their lieutenants, including Kilifi North and Ganze MPs Gideon Mung'aro and Peter Shehe respectively.

Uhuru's week-long stay in the Coast began in Malindi, where he is said to have met local leaders, including Jubilee-friendly aspirants, at a hotel on December 24, before moving to Mombasa, where he has been operating from since.

Speaking at his Marere rural home on Thursday, Shehe said the Malindi seat interests everybody, but insisted that the residents ought to vote in a Jubilee candidate in appreciation of the elevation of area MP Dan Kazungu to Cabinet.

"President Kenyatta's giving Dan a ministerial post indicates that he has the interests of the Malindi people at heart," said Shehe.

Ruto on the other hand hosted a meeting with Kilifi County leaders over the weekend at the Kilifi town-based Pwani University, before pitching tent in Watamu to show just how much time and effort Jubilee can dedicate to the campaign.

The Coast leaders present from the county's seven constituencies endorsed the ruling Jubilee as the coalition residents ought to vote for after proving it has their interests at heart by addressing the squatter problem.

Jubilee has a number of candidates, with banker Philip Charo, who enjoys Mung'aro's backing, being touted as the frontrunner of the pack, followed by former MP and Ruto close ally Lukas Maitha. Mung'aro, who is considered a key player in Malindi politics, having been MP and mayor for a decade, is said to be treading carefully to ensure the ruling coalition gets the most popular candidate and wins the seat.

Shehe said President Uhuru and DP Ruto have left local leaders to handle the Malindi campaigns, though they are monitoring the situation from a distance.

"Both the president and his deputy have left the matter to us on a principle of respect for home-grown solutions to this issue. We are urging our opponents to respect them because they are our leaders," said Shehe.

Shehe said the local leaders tasked to ensure a government-friendly candidate wins will organize the people to vote in a candidate who has a vision for the constituency.

Source