Coast residents ‘unhappy’ with Balala’s new status

Coast residents ‘unhappy' with Balala's new status

By STANDARD TEAM

Most Coast residents reacted negatively to Najib Balala's nomination as Cabinet Secretary.

Most commentators appeared disappointed by the fact the ethnic MijiKenda were sidelined and political losers rewarded while the Ministry of Tourism had been taken away from Coast, which has traditionally been its preserve.

Former Kaloleni MP Kambi Kazungu was openly frustrated yesterday when President Uhuru named 12 people to his proposed Cabinet including Balala who like him, lost the March 4 election.

"Balala represents the Arabs of Mombasa. The Miji Kenda are the majority at the Coast and ought to be considered," said Kambi.

But lawyer Yusuf Abubakar supported Balala's nomination saying: "It is well deserved as he has the necessary experience in the mining ministry". He added that Coast deserved at least two or three posts.

Displeasure was also based on the fact residents know little or nothing about nominees to the Tourism and Devolution ministries, which they hold dearly.

Lawyer Lucy Momanyi, also Director of Federation of Women Lawyers, hailed the nomination of more women to the Cabinet and praised Raychelle Omamo's selection as Defence Secretary describing her as ‘capable and a good manager' having served as chairman of the Law Society of Kenya and a diplomat.

South Coast branch of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya chairman Amir Banda said Muslims had not clamoured for Balala's and former minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere's inclusion in the Cabinet because ‘they were rejected by voters.'
Kwale Woman Representative Zainab Chidzuga felt Uhuru had rewarded political losers.

While the Law Society of Kenya Coast branch praised the educational backgrounds of the nominees, branch chairman Eric Nyongesa said the inclusion of Balala and Lands Cabinet Secretary nominee Charity Ngilu ‘does not go down well with many people' because the latter still has ‘some pending issues' in her past capacity at the Water ministry.

He also said he has reservations in Balala's ability to manage the mining sector arguing the former Mvita MP was better placed in the Tourism ministry ‘where he had excelled.'

Players in the multi-billion shilling tourism industry at the Coast led by the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) termed the list surprising and beyond their expectations.

KAHC Coast branch executive officer, Mr Sam Ikwaye said that the Cabinet nominee for the tourism docket, Ms Phyliss Chepkoskei Kandie was relatively new to stakeholders who will be waiting for her to be vetted before they can engage her.
"She is a newcomer to the docket where tourism will be anchored. We are waiting for her and hope we can work together to bolster tourism to greater heights," Ikwaye said.

But the Muslim for Human Rights through its Executive Director, Hussein Khalid said the President and his Deputy went against their earlier stand.

"The selected nominees do not represent regional balancing and we feel the Coast region has been shortchanged with only one nominee," Khalid said. Khalid also said Uhuru left out the youth and academicians. He said allocating Lands Ministry to Ngilu was a blunder.

-Reports by Philip Mwakio, Tobias Chanji and Willis Oketch

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Kenya : Coast residents ?unhappy? with Balala?s new status

Widespread discontent at Coast over choice of Balala for mining



Najib Balala (Center) when he was announced Mining Cabinet Secretary by President Uhuru Kenyatta (Left) and his Deputy William Ruto at the State House, Nairobi on April 25, 2013. PHOTO/FILE NATION

By MWAKERA MWAJEFA mwajefa@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, April 27 2013 at 21:08

In Summary

• Human Rights Agenda Executive Director Yusuf Mwasefu Lulu wondered why President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto settled on Balala when the region had other experienced professionals ready to take up such positions.

The nomination of Najib Balala as Cabinet Secretary, Mining has elicited mixed reactions from leaders at the Coast.

Those opposed to his nomination say Mr Balala represents his own interests, not the region's. They point out that in addition to his losing the Mombasa County Senate seat, his Republican Congress Party won no elective position even after fielding 14 candidates throughout the region.

Kadu-Asili chairman Milton Mwaduni Mchombo expressed disappointment at being given a "raw deal" by the Jubilee partners, accusing them of discrimination.

"We are saddened by his appointment because it was supposed to be for Kadu-Asili which has a Kaloleni MP and county representatives in Kilifi and Kwale counties," he said.

Mr Mwaduni criticised President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto for picking nominees on the basis of friendship rather than merit of party performance under the Jubilee coalition.

But the Kilifi gubernatorial loser, Prof Gabriel Katana said Mr Balala should be given a chance to prove himself based on his past performance as minister and mayor of Mombasa.

"This region is endowed with many natural resources that have been used by others to enrich themselves in Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi and Tana River counties without the local communities benefiting," he said.

Chama Cha Uzalendo chairman Maur Bwanamaka praised Uhuru and Ruto for showing commitment to their allies.

"Most people are judging the nominees at face value instead of taking time to analyse or assess their experience, qualifications and track records before passing judgment," he told Sunday Nation on phone.

But Africa Nazarene University School of Law chair Dr Morris Mbondenyi took issue with the decision to pick ‘a loser' in a region that did not lack qualified individuals.

Recycle old order

"Balala has been tested and discarded by the electorate so let's give a chance to others to be tested under the new dispensation rather than recycle the old order," he said by phone.

Two local civic rights organisations also criticised the inclusion of ‘political rejects' in the Cabinet, saying this went against the spirit and letter of the Constitution.

Human Rights Agenda Executive Director Yusuf Mwasefu Lulu wondered why President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto settled on Balala when the region had other experienced professionals ready to take up such positions.

He also dismissed the nomination of Mrs Charity Ngilu as Cabinet secretary for the Land, Housing and Urban Development docket.

"Land issues in this region are a ticking bomb, and we don't trust Madam Ngilu to be impartial when we know it involves some of the most influential personalities in the country," he said.

His Muslims for Human Rights counterpart Hussein Khalid called on the parliamentary vetting team to reject eight of the 16 nominees saying they did not meet the threshold of constitutional requirements.

"A nominee like Rachel Omamo is more fit as Justice Cabinet Secretary because of her experience as a lawyer and diplomat. The Defense docket requires somebody like Francis Kimemia who has expertise in security," he said in a statement.

Anglican Church of Kenya Mombasa Diocese Bishop Julius Kalu criticised the appointment of politicians saying the Jubilee government should have stuck to its promise of only hiring professionals.
However, the Bishop was optimistic the region might benefit from Mr Balala's appointed to the Mining docket due to the rich variety of minerals found at the Coast.

Widespread discontent at Coast over choice of Balala for mining - Politics - nation.co.ke

Sasa hawa wapwani bana, they voted to a man for cord but want to tell jubilee who to choose to represent them in cabinet.

Balala is a political reject, an academic dwarf and spineless politician that should not be allowed anywhere near the cabinet! The jubilee stooges promised not to include "politicians" in their line up but it is no surprise Balala and his fellow reject have found their way into the cabinet. Next stop, parliament.

Shame on you,kazungu kambi,umetumwa na umetumiwa,na viongozi kama nyinyi ndio munao rudisha pwani nyuma,hata umewachwa kwenye mataa,that is a hate speech,unatia chuki baina ya wa pwani,waislamu na wasokuwa waislamu.mijikenda na wasokuwa mijikenda.tutaenda wapi kama wapwani,aibu aibu aibu!,.

Point zote ni za ubaguzi usio wa maana.Naamini wameteuliwa na rais ili wawatumikie wakenya wote na sio watu wa pwani.Chuki ugawa Taifa.

Well let us wait and see

Somebody should tell coast people that "choices have consequencies"

It is shameless of them to put demands on who Jubilee appoint all not.

Balala and Ngilu lost in their backyards, not becoz they are not performers, infact, they are in the league of William Ruto in terms of delivering..

It is regrettable that people at Coast rejected a person of Balala's calibre just coz Raila told them to do so and that he was associated with Jubilee.

Balala hana lolote,ngilu nae ananuka rushwa sana.kwani pwani hakuna wasomi zaidi balala? Je nyie wakenya mnategemea mama ngilu kushughulikia maswala ya ardhi ipasavyo wakati boss wake ndio ndio mnyakuzi namba moja wa ardhi ya wakenya? Hapo mumeingizwa choo cha kike.

Crucial Man said:

Balala hana lolote,ngilu nae ananuka rushwa sana.kwani pwani hakuna wasomi zaidi balala? Je nyie wakenya mnategemea mama ngilu kushughulikia maswala ya ardhi ipasavyo wakati boss wake ndio ndio mnyakuzi namba moja wa ardhi ya wakenya? Hapo mumeingizwa choo cha kike.

Click to expand...

"Balala hana lolote" Wamaanisha nini mwenzangu, ama ni maneno matupu tu?
Yaani kulingana na wewe, nani angefaa achaguliwe kwenye Wizara ya ardhi na ambaye Boss wake engekua tofauti

Wewe Crucial man kua Muungwana ,fafanua maandishi yako.