Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya and his Deputy Ms Fatuma Achani have thanked residents of the county and friends who stood with them during the two years they faced a court case challenging their election in the 2017 poll.

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Speaking in two different functions at Ndavaya and Mwangulu where they distributed bursary cheques worth more than Sh8 million to secondary and college students, the two pledged to work harder towards transforming the lives of Kwale residents.

“We were always held back by the case that had dragged on since last year. Now that it is over, we want to pledge to you that we will work twice as hard to bring development and to transform your lives through development projects,” said Mvurya at Ndavaya Chief’s grounds.

He said that the case challenging his election was lodged by former Kenyan Ambassador to Tanzania Ali Chirau Mwakwere who lost to Mvurya in the 2017 gubernatorial race.

Mvurya garnered more than 119,000 votes against Mwakwere’s 28,000 but the latter moved to the High Court where the case challenging the outcome was dismissed.

 He moved to the Court of Appeal where again the case was dismissed before he moved to the Supreme Court where he also lost last month.

“We were being tied and disrupted by the court case left, right and centre. Now that the case is over and we won for the third time, we will be seen in the field more often to initiate development projects,” said Achani at Mwangulu.

The two leaders took issue with other local elected leaders who are reportedly spreading hatred and inciting residents on tribal affiliation and called on the people to reject them.

“If anyone comes around to seek leadership dangling the bait of tribalism, that person is not a good leader and should be rejected. People should only sell their agenda because one’s tribe is not a qualification to become a governor or any other position of leadership,” said Governor Mvurya.

The Governor singled out two MCAs from Kinango Sub-county and a loser in the 2017 governorship race for spreading tribal feelings and inciting the people.

“I also call upon the security agencies to deal with such leaders for creating animosity among Kwale residents who have co-existed peacefully all along despite their diversity. This County is not for the Durumas, Digos, Kambas or any other tribe. It belongs to all Kenyan tribes which live here,” said the governor on Sunday.

Other leaders present at the two functions were Kwale Public Service Board Members Nyanje Mwamleu and Salim Mrina, Education CeC Mangale Munga Chiforomodo and Coast Development Director Mshenga Vuyaa Ruga and other senior county officials.