Coast leaders allied to the Broad-based government have intensified campaigns to increase the region’s votes to 4 million in the 2027 general elections.

Led by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi , Mining CS Ali Hassan Joho, Sports CS Salim Mvurya, Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro, Minority leader of the Senate Stewart Madzayo and Youth PS Fikirini Jacobs among others, the leaders said their aim is to ensure Coast region is counted for increased number of votes and by voting overwhelmingly for President William Ruto.

The leaders have been going round the entire six counties holding meetings with opinion leaders so as to help pass the message to the grassroots to sensitize people to register for Identity cards and as voters.

Speaking at the Vipingo grounds in Kilifi South on Monday, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said they plan to bring live capture machines that will process ID cards in real time to help speed up the process of identity card registration. 

“Our plan is to increase the votes of Coast from 2 million to 4 million and it’s possible because the numbers are there. It’s just that people are not registered, we want all the uncollected identity cards to be taken to the grassroots and after people get them they register as voters,” said Kingi.

The Senate Speaker said the agenda of mass registration is to increase numbers and ensure Ruto is re-elected so that Coast gets more development.

Kingi however did not hesitate to announce that after Ruto exits in 2032 the coast region must produce a president and should be given support from across the country 

“The region has leaders who qualify for President including , Mvurya, Joho and Mung’aro, in 2032 we shall come back to the ground to start the process of winning the top seat,” he said.

On his part, Joho said the Coast region must turn out and register as voters in large numbers  so that the region can have numbers to aid in the reelection of President William Ruto.

“Coast region must be counted in the oncoming general elections just like other regions in the country,” said the CS.

He asked residents of the Coast region to reject calls by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to join the opposition saying some regions were seeing development under this regime of President Ruto in all sectors from education, health, among others and by supporting overwhelmingly for his reelection the region will benefit more.

Joho also said the Coast region will  produce a president and shall also receive support the same way the region supported baba but reminded residents that for that to be achieved there has to be numbers, that’s why they are aggressively hitting the ground to increase the numbers.

He said Ronald Ngalla Utalii college had stalled for a long time but  is set to open it’s doors during Ruto’s tenure  in September this year.

The CS urged coast region to reject Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as he  was  in power all through but did not support the region in development.

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro on his part said Coast leaders are united for the sake of pushing for re-election of Ruto.

Kilifi County alone has 384,000 people who have IDs but have no voters cards adding that over 450,000 have not registered for IDs.

He said their plan is to go to the grassroots and ensure they register those without IDs and make sure they are also registered as voters.

“The arrogance from Riggy G is because his region has numbers upto 4 million so to be equal we must increase our numbers  in the ballot to 4 million,” said Mung’aro.

The Kilifi Governor said in the broadbased government they are working closely for development of the region.

“Land acquisition has been given priority and President Ruto has taken up the matter seriously; he wants to resolve the squatter problem, some of those in united opposition are the ones who own the parcels of land and do not want to let them go that’s why they are against his reelection,” he said.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nasir who was also present said President Ruto has united the country and brought equality in all areas of the country.

“Other leaders are advocating for tourists not to come to Kenya while Ruto is opening Ronald Ngalla Utalii College ,the Economy of Mombasa  was also revived by Ruto after Uhuru diverted operations to Naivasha,” said the Mombasa Governor.

Kilifi senator Stewart Madzayo said the emotive land issue was  being addressed by Ruto and it’s going to enable locals to get land ownership documents. 

Youth Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs  said the journey that has started will help to bring back justice in the coast region.

He said currently the  historical injustices were being wiped out one after the other under president William Ruto’s administration.

“Sixty three  years ago since independence it’s President Ruto who has begun giving land ownership documents to the coastal people. Those against Ruto have no problem with him but with the people of Coast region who have suffered since independence without land ownership documents,” he said.