President Uhuru Kenyatta at a past event. [Photo/ citizentv.co.ke]
The Gema community in Mombasa has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to appoint one of their own to his new cabinet.Speaking during a press conference in Mombasa, the community leaders said members of the community residing outside the Central and Rift Valley regions usually miss out on cabinet secretary and principal secretary appointments.Led by the community’s chairman in the county Evans Murungaru, the members said they have tirelessly campaigned for the Jubilee party in the opposition stronghold and thus deserve at least one cabinet slot.“Gema professionals residing in Mombasa deserve cabinet slots, diplomatic and other senior positions in the national government,” said Murungaru.His sentiments were echoed by Jubilee Party Mombasa branch organising secretary Peter Gichamba who said members of the community living in the region voted for Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto in the August 8 general election and the October 26 repeat presidential poll.“We are not in competition with other communities residing in the coastal region but we are saying as Gema, we delivered a lot of votes to the president and his deputy and they should remember us while making government appointments,” said Gichamba.On his part, businessman Patrick Kabundu said since lobbying is an effective tool for getting things done in politics they will continue to push for their agenda.“As the president and his deputy finalise crafting their new cabinet, let them remember that the Gema people born and bred outside their ancestral regions also deserve senior positions in their government,” said Kabundu.Gema consists of the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru and Akamba communities.