Mombasa Women Representative Mishi Mboko at a past event. [Photo: facebook.com]
Mombasa Women Representative Mishi Mboko has urged Coast residents to rally behind Governor Hassan Joho to ensure he clinches the presidency in 2022.Mboko said Joho will defend Coast residents and champion for their rights.Addressing residents at Shika Adabu area in Likoni on Monday, Mboko who is vying for the Likoni Parliamentary seat, said the Coastal people lack unity, and that is why the region has never produced a president.Mboko said the Governor’s 2022 vision should be fully supported by every Coast resident.She, however, said it was worrying that there has been a major political divide after Joho declared to vie for the country's top seat .The MP hopeful said other regions have protected and supported their own leaders, adding that Coast residents should raise and nurture one of their own who can take them to State House.“Look at President Uhuru Kenyatta, look at Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka and other leaders we are seeing today. They have been raised and supported by their own, what about us in Coast?” aksed Mboko.She said Joho should not be victimized for declaring interest in the seat, arguing it was high time Coastarians threw their weight behind one of their own.“It is a total shame for some Coastal leaders to support Jubilee government while they understand very well that it is the same government that has discriminated against the region,” said Mboko.She appealed to Mombasa residents to vote for Joho and ensure he retains his seat, in a bid to prepare him to vie for the Presidency come 2022.Her remarks were backed by Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba who said Joho has set the pace and residents in the region should fully emulate and support him.The MP argued that the region has remained behind in terms of development due to lack of unity.“Whenever we say Coast has been marginalized we are told we are tribalists, can you do your own research and find out who is a real tribal leader in this country?” he asked.