Coastal region residents have an obligation to support Deputy President William Ruto given his continued support to them, he has said.
Dr Ruto is in a 5-day tour to the region which will end on Monday. Apparently, he toured the region days after President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga left.
For over a decade, coastal counties have always voted for Mr Odinga, who enjoys support from local political bigwigs like Mombasa Governor Ali Joho.
While noting that the region is yet to back his bid, Dr Ruto on Friday urged residents to consider him given a serious of fundraisers he has attended in the region.
“I am always ready to support you when you call upon me to do so. But you should also return the favour and support us,” he said.
Ruto was accompanied by MPs Aisha Jumwa (Malindi), Paul Katana (Kaloleni), Badi Twalib (Jomvu), Ali Wario (Garsen), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga), Athman Shariff (Lamu East) and Nominated legislator Christine Zawadi.
Of all the Kilifi MPs, only Jumwa and Katana attended. Earlier, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed had claimed that others snubbed Ruto's function to attend to ODM campaigns in Ganda ward.
Ms Jumwa said Kenya’s financial status would not allow it to fund a constitutional review.
“We would not respond to a call that is for reviving the political fortunes of some leaders,” she said.
The Malindi lawmaker said Kenya had pressing issues and its resources should be channelled to healthcare, infrastructure, education, agriculture and security.