Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi at a past event. [Photo/ zipo.co.ke]
Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) chairman Omar Mwamnuadzi should be made the leader of the Coast region should it secede, a Muslim cleric has said.Kenya Muslims National Advisory Council acting secretary general Sheikh Amani Khamis on Monday said Mwamnuadzi has a better chance of earning the trust of Coast residents compared to Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi.Sheikh Khamis and Kemnac chair Sheikh Juma Ngao criticised the governors, saying they are only interested in power.This comes after Joho and Kingi on Friday said they have begun the process of seeking self-rule, citing marginalisation of the region by successive governments.Sheikh Khamis and Sheikh Ngao dismissed the governors, saying attaining self-rule is a mirage.“If they are serious about seceding they should make Mwamnuadzi the leader of the region. Only then will we know that they mean business,” said Sheikh Khamis.The cleric also asked Joho and Kingi to ensure all MRC members who have pending court cases are adequately represented by top lawyers in the country because they are fighting for the same agenda the two leaders are now agitating for.On his part, Sheikh Ngao said Coast residents will suffer more should the region be allowed to form its own government.He argued that Kingi and Joho are not fit to lead the region because they have failed in the leadership of their own counties.“Mombasa is filthy, Kilifi residents are struggling with drought. Drug abuse is rampant in the two counties but their leaders have done nothing,” said Sheikh Ngao.He claimed that the two governors only want to remain relevant at the end of their second terms in office.