Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho at a past media briefing. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has said that the push to have the Coast region split from the rest of the country is unstoppable.The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) deputy party leader said they will push for the secession of the Coast region no matter how long it takes.Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the swearing in of newly appointed Mombasa County Executive Committee (CECs) members on Thursday, Joho said Coast politicians pushing for secession will not be intimidated or fall to negative criticism in their quest to secede.The ODM Governor indicated that their push for separation is not selfish as some politicians and critics have claimed.“We are going to push for secession even if it takes us 10 or more years,” said Joho.Joho at the same time rubbished claims that he alongside other Coast politicians are using secession as a campaign tool ahead of the 2022 general election.Joho said the push for secession is for the interest of Coast residents whom he said have been marginalised and discriminated since independence.Joho and his Kilifi counterpart Governor Amason Kingi have been under criticism for championing for the Coast region’s self-rule.A section of politicians allied to Jubilee and the clergy have faulted the secession debate, saying it will not tackle the issues facing the region.There have been speculations that Joho and Kingi could be using secession to reinforce their political tactics ahead of the 2022 general election.The secession debate has continued to elicit missed reactions countrywide.Homa Bay Town Peter Kaluma has drafted a secession Bill that seeks to have the country split into two Republics; the People's Republic of Kenya and the Central Republic of Kenya.Jubilee politicians have vowed to shoot down the Bill once it is tabled in Parliament.