A Cabinet minister has alleged that the Government is fronting a local tycoon of Italian origin for the Magarini constituency by-election.
Transport minister Ali Mwakwere, speaking in the company of former area MP Harrison Kombe, said the Government was supporting Mr Franco Esposito alias Kasoso wa Baya of Narc Kenya in the by-election to be held on May 14.
Transport minister Ali Mwakwere, speaking in the company of former area MP Harrison Kombe, said the Government was supporting Mr Franco Esposito alias Kasoso wa Baya of Narc Kenya in the by-election to be held on May 14.
Mr Mwakwere said the Mijikenda community had been abused, oppressed and neglected for a long time by past regimes. “As the spokesman of the Mijikenda Council of Elders Association and the Mijikenda community, I reject the Italian candidate for this and any other constituency in Coast.
“I say that only our own person will be able to understand our problems,” Mr Mwakwere said.
The chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem), Mombasa branch, Sheikh Juma Ngao, who was also in the area campaigning for Mr Kombe, said it was not right for a “foreigner” to be elected in the area as “this is returning colonialism in our country”.
He urged voters to return Mr Kombe to enable him complete projects he had initiated in the area.
“I say that only our own person will be able to understand our problems,” Mr Mwakwere said.
The chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem), Mombasa branch, Sheikh Juma Ngao, who was also in the area campaigning for Mr Kombe, said it was not right for a “foreigner” to be elected in the area as “this is returning colonialism in our country”.
He urged voters to return Mr Kombe to enable him complete projects he had initiated in the area.
The leaders spoke at Makumba primary school during a prize-giving day day ceremony that was turned into a campaign rally the former MP.
Mr Kombe accused assistant minister Danson Mungatana of being the architect of the Esposito project.
Mr Kombe accused assistant minister Danson Mungatana of being the architect of the Esposito project.
But in a quick rejoinder, Mr Mungatana, the Justice and Constitutional Affairs assistant minister, denied fronting anybody for Magarini.
He said on phone from Nairobi: “Neither I nor the Government is sponsoring any candidate in Magarini. It’s a free field where anybody can venture.
“One’s colour, race, religion or ethnicity is irrelevant. So it is nonsensical what these leaders are saying.”
He said on phone from Nairobi: “Neither I nor the Government is sponsoring any candidate in Magarini. It’s a free field where anybody can venture.
“One’s colour, race, religion or ethnicity is irrelevant. So it is nonsensical what these leaders are saying.”
Mr Mungatana revealed that Narc-K had dispatched a strong team of four party officials on the ground to establish which candidate would be supported.
“As I talk now, a Narc-Kenya party team, led by deputy executive director Mr Sande Oyolo, is on the ground for an exploratory mission.
“Our interest is for the party not individuals,” the assistant minister said.
“As I talk now, a Narc-Kenya party team, led by deputy executive director Mr Sande Oyolo, is on the ground for an exploratory mission.
“Our interest is for the party not individuals,” the assistant minister said.
Daily Nation
Story by Daniel Nyassy
Date: 4/4/2007
Story by Daniel Nyassy
Date: 4/4/2007
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