Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has broken silence on claims that Coast region will be forming a regional party ahead of the 2022 general election.
Speaking to journalists in Mombasa on Thursday, Joho said that the idea of forming regional political party has not been discussed widely as the media reports.
The ODM governor said that the idea by Kilifi governor Amason Kingi will be deliberated in a meeting planned for next month.
“We have not discussed the issue of Coast forming its own party ahead of 2022 as it is being reported in some media,” he said.
Governor Joho said that forming a region party is an idea being floated by governor Kingi and not Coast region politicians.
He said that Kingi has a right to an opinion, adding that they will give a comprehensive way forward once they meet.
Joho said that Coast remains an ODM stronghold as reflected in last year’s general election.
The ODM deputy party leader said that their focus now is to push for the development of the region.
Last week, Governor Kingi was quoted saying that Coast will form its own party to push for its interests ahead of 2022.
The ODM governor said that the region has suffered, adding that its time they charted their own political route.
Kingi later denied reports that he was planning to quit the Raila Odinga led ODM party.
Governor Kingi, Joho and other Coast politicians are also advocating for Coast secession on grounds that the region has been sidelined and neglected by the previous and current regimes.