Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi at a past event. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
43-year-old Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has achieved much in politics and with a potential of an even brighter political future, the firebrand county chief is the man to watch in the county's political arena.Kingi is at the moment regarded as the most influential politician among the Mijikenda community and is posing a great threat to Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho who has positioned himself as the most influential political voice in the Coast region.The county boss, who made his political debut in 2007 easily thrashed the then Magarini MP Harrison Kombe, making him the first victim of his immense political influence. Since then, Kingi has brought down the careers of many politicians in the county.Former Ganze MP and Assistant Minister Francis Baya who contested for Kilifi governor in 2013 lost to Kingi and has failed to recover politically since then.Former Kaloleni MP Kazungu Kambi is another victim of Kingi's political influence. In 2013, he lost his seat to Gunga Mwinga of KADU Asili but his hope of a political comeback in 2017 failed terribly after losing to Kingi in the gubernatorial race.Majority of the victims of Kingi's political influence came in 2017 when all MPs in the county allied to the Jubilee Party lost their seats.Former Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro lost to Kingi in the governor race while his Kilifi South counterpart Mustafa Iddi lost to an ODM candidate.In Magarini, Kingi's long-time political rival Harrison Kombe lost his seat for the second time after he was beaten by Michael Kingi, Governor Kingi's younger brother.In the neighbouring Ganze constituency, Peter Shehe lost his seat to ODM’s Teddy Mwambire while in Rabai, William Kamto of ODM defended his seat after defeating Emma Mbura of Maendeleo Chap Chap, a Jubilee-friendly party.Kingi's former deputy Ken Kamto’s political career is also hanging in the balance after he defected to Jubilee in the run up to the August polls to become Gideon Mung'aro’s running mate.With all these political careers dealt a major blow, Kingi has confirmed he is the undisputed kingpin in Kilifi.