Amason Kingi in (Second from Right). File Photo. 
By Ben Okweingoti
Confusion has rocked the political landscape in Kilifi County after allies of Senate Speaker Amason Kingi openly opposed the broad-based political arrangement, raising fresh questions over President William Ruto’s re-election strategy in the Coast region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kingi has emerged as one of the leading proponents of the broad-based government and is among the senior political leaders spearheading efforts to secure Ruto’s re-election in 2027.
However, some of his political lieutenants appear to be charting a different course, creating an emerging split within the camp supporting the President’s re-election bid in Kilifi.
The leaders have been seen accompanying Kingi during his broad-based government rallies before retreating to the political camp associated with former Kenya Roads Board chairperson Aisha Jumwa.
Among them is Kingi’s Senate liaison officer Sammy Ndago, who is seeking to unseat the incumbent in the Kilifi South parliamentary race.
Ndago has criticised the proposed political zoning arrangement between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), warning that the deal could cost Ruto crucial votes in Kilifi.
He argued that the arrangement could frustrate UDA supporters in the region and trigger defections, particularly among voters who feel that the zoning formula denies them the opportunity to freely choose their preferred candidates.
Ndago spoke during a voter registration drive and Huduma Mashinani programme held at Kidutani Primary School grounds in Chonyi Sub-County, an event attended by local political leaders.
He maintained that political zoning would undermine democracy and could complicate efforts to market Ruto to voters in the county.
“We must come out as the youth of this nation and take our political positions. Here in Kilifi South, I want to unseat the old guard. When it comes to governor, my choice is Aisha Jumwa since Mung’aro has run down the county,” Ndago said.
He further claimed that leaders from the Coast region had failed to effectively sell the Kenya Kwanza administration’s achievements to residents, making the President’s re-election campaign increasingly difficult.
“The prices of fertilizer have gone down and many other things, but in our area, it is not felt yet they want us to support Ruto. We will not allow the broad-based zoning pattern to disrupt our political vision,” he said.
Ndago also criticised the proposed political zoning arrangement involving UDA and ODM, urging President Ruto and ODM leader Oburu Oginga to allow voters to freely choose their preferred candidates.
“We will not allow zoning in Kilifi County. I want to tell the President that those leaders advocating for political zoning are lying to him and that selling him to residents is becoming difficult as we approach next year’s General Election,” he said.
He warned that failure to embrace political inclusivity could further alienate voters and weaken the President’s support in the region.
“If we don’t accept political inclusivity, then we are doomed,” Ndago said.
The emerging differences are likely to complicate the political equation in Kilifi, where competing camps are already positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Jumwa’s opposition to the political arrangement has further intensified the contest after she reportedly fell out with the ruling establishment over her political ambitions, including her desire to contest the Kilifi gubernatorial seat.
The developments have placed Kingi’s allies in an increasingly delicate position as they seek to balance support for the President’s re-election campaign with growing opposition to the proposed political zoning formula in the county.
With 2027 drawing closer, the divisions could prove significant in a region where political alliances and candidate preferences are expected to play a major role in determining the presidential and county election outcomes.
