Political leaders in Kilifi have argued that the land in Chonyi -Kilifi South Constituency is capable of feeding the whole Coast region if investments are channeled to Agriculture.
For many years, Kilifi County has hosted hungry residents with impoverished poverty and now leaders from all corners are promising to key in agriculture reforms so as to end famine and boost livelihoods.
Speaking at Bundacho in Kilifi South constituency, the politicians led by Former Malindi MP Lucas Maitha told the Chonyi community that if long- term measures are deployed in the region, Chonyi will guarantee food security to the whole Coast region.
Maitha who is also the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) Spokesperson urged the party’s aspirants to prioritize transforming Chonyi into food basket to cover Kilifi’s shame of everlasting drought.
He urged the Chonyi residents to vote in leaders who will make good use of the potential land to lift the region’s economy, saying that the county’s economy depend on intellectual leaders.
“Elect wise leaders who will come up with permanent solutions to end this shameful situation of famine in Kilifi. We need an intellectual individual with utmost expertise in the ministry of Agriculture to be appointed in this region”, Maitha said.
He argued that over the years, Kilifi residents have elected leaders who are controlled by their party leaders from up-country, while neglecting Kilifi and other regions at the Coastal Kenya.
“Raila said he will appoint Hassan Joho as the minister for lands, but will he come here to solve land issues when we are all aware that his political party ODM does not belong to you, the Coast people? Only PAA understands your needs and therefore will solve your issues”, he said.
Former Kenyan Ambassador to Zambia Sophie Kombe who is contesting as Kilifi South MP garnered votes from the residents promising that she will revive agriculture in the region if elected in the forthcoming polls.
She said that Chonyi land is a hotspot for maize, tangerine, green grams, Cowpeas among other crops and so far no political leader has utilized the full potential of the region.
“Investing in Agriculture, adding more fertilizers and grains, and transforming the agricultural sector means more food not only on your tables but also the residents’ at Coast region”, she said.
Kilifi County women representative aspirant Christine Zawadi said that not only the land is productive but also the Chonyi community are the most hardworking tribe in the Coast region and thus should be boosted to yield productivity for a better economy.
She vowed to reform the agricultural sector in the region in collaboration with other leaders if voted in on 9th August elections.
Ben Kai, Kilifi County senatorial aspirant who is also a resident of Bundacho in Chonyi, criticized former leaders especially ODM serving Kilifi Senator Steewart Madzayo for not developing the region.
Kai said that leaders develop where they come from unlike the Coast leaders who bow to Political Parties which even do not originate from the Coast region.
He gave example of Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka who according to him did not join Azimio la Umoja party until his ultimatums of developing Ukambani region were considered.
Kai urged the residents to elect him among other leaders from a political party that belongs to them if they want to benefit directly in the next governance.
Kilifi County Governor aspirant George Kithi said that reforming agriculture in the region will come handy with his other agenda of providing for free education to all learners in the county.
He said he will use his knowledge in Law to utilize the devolved funds in order to ensure that all learners in the region are educated after which will benefit from the many job opportunities that he aims to create from the agricultural sector.
He said that if the residents vote him in as the governor, he will set aside two billion shillings out of 12 billion to ensure that all children in Kilifi receive free education.
Kithi also promised the residents to set aside 600 million shillings to revive the Korosho industry so as to boost the economy not only in the region but the Coast region at large.
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