By Wangai Githuri
Special Correspondent in NAIROBI
President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga met in Mombasa over the weekend with succession politics said to be top on the agenda exactly a year to the next General Election.
According to our ever on alert spies in Mombasa, the meeting of the “handshake brothers”, as they refer to each other, concluded with President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Vice President-Kalonzo Musyoka, other top leaders including; Moses Wetangula, Musalia Mudavadi, W Oparanya, Gideon Moi unanimously declared support for Raila Odinga for President in 2022 polls.
The development comes few days after Deputy President William Ruto hosted tens of MPs allied to him at Karen’s home and left little doubt that there was any reconciliation chance between him and his boss. He accuses the president of veering off the Jubilee agenda the moment he had a truce with Mr. Odinga, their main challenger in the last polls.
Secret Meetings
At the same time, a new political party realignment is in the Mombasa secret meetings between Jubilee members and ODM top leadership.
Different Coast ODM politicians have met with Odinga, their party leader, where they presented details on their wish for future political realignments.
Sources privy to the arrangements indicate several meetings have been held between President Kenyatta, who has been in Mombasa close to a week now, and Odinga who arrived in Mombasa on Thursday evening.
Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir confirmed Mr. Odinga has been in Mombasa to meet different people to position the party ahead of next the 2022 polls.
“President is in Mombasa and as a leader, he is free to be in any part of the country. We as ODM members we have met Mr. Odinga. I met him for six hours where we discussed several national party strategies to deploy in the coming election,” he said.
“Coast leaders we are ready to meet President who is in Mombasa to discuss different issues affecting the region.”
Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire confirmed there had been meetings between ODM and Jubilee, adding that there are hopes of fresh political realignment soon.
He said apart from political talks, the leaders support President Kenyatta’s push to ensure ongoing legacy projects are delivered before his term ends.
“Coast parliamentarians aligned to ODM and Jubilee are working together to support the President to deliver his promises to the region and this is brought about by handshake. Apart from that, ODM is also negotiating with Jubilee for future realignments considering it ditched Nasa a few days ago,” he said.
“The visit of the President and Mr. Odinga in the Coast region this time is critical economically and politically.”
The Ganze MP also said they are awaiting the BBI ruling on August 20, which is also expected to change the political landscape in the country.
ODM senatorial aspirant Hamisi Mwaguya urged President Kenyatta to fast-track the construction of the Dongo Kundu special economic zone to create jobs for the youth.
“His visit to the region is beneficial, we laud his projects, which will revive the region’s economy. The Dongo Kundu special economic zone should be fast-tracked, the Head of State should give incentives to investors to come on board,” he said.
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