Kilifi governor Amason Kingi has sounded a warning to politicians eyeing the coast support in the 2022 polls, cautioning that it will not be business as usual.
The region has for many years rallied behind Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga in his presidential ambitions and many area leaders elected on his party.
At the same time, Deputy President William Ruto has been trying to make inroads into the region ahead of his 2022 presidential bid, which Kingi says will nolonger be easy.
The county boss says that unlike in the past where the region blindly followed leaders, it will take more effort to woo it, which comes as a blow for both (Raila and Ruto).
He says the region will have to be included in the negotiation table beforehand, and will only join the side whose offers appear more interesting and convincing.
“Coast shall approach the national political table and sit to negotiate as an equal partner unlike in the past when the national menu hardly contained issues that are close to the hearts of our people,” he told the Standard.
The county boss also says that all area leaders must follow the new guideline, warning those who have been championing for the ambitions of outsiders in the region.
According to him, such persons will be abandoned as the remaining leaders plan the next move.
“Any coastal political leader who shall be used as a broker or a mouthpiece to advance the interests of other political leaders at the expense one of their own will be on their own,” he added.
Kingi has since teamed up with his Mombasa counterpart Ali Hassan Joho, both on their second and last terms, in a bid to chart the way forward for the region.