Known for her aggressive political traits, former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa has sent the ruling party UDA back to the drawing board after announcing plans to seek a top political position using the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) Party.
Her recent announcement to move to Amason Kingi’s party PAA has unsettled UDA forcing the party leadership to re-strategize not to be caught flat footed as plans for 2027 start to take shape.
In the 2022 elections Jumwa vied for the Kilifi governorship on UDA ticket coming second after Gideon Mun’garo of the ODM party. Mun’garo garnered 143,773 votes to secure victory against Assembly Aisha Jumwa Karisa Katana (UDA), who polled 68,893.
Some UDA leaders like Kilifi north Member of Parliament and the Deputy Majority leader in the National Assembly, Owen Baya has described Jumwa’s move as inconsequential saying Mun’garo is the broad base coalition candidate. Owen Baya campaigned for the ODM candidate in 2022.
Baya said Jumwa had lost political direction and offered to help her. “I am willing to offer pro bono political services to you because you look lost. The Kilifi political plan has already been drawn and Governor Mun’garo is two-term.” he said.
“Hate her or like her but Hon Hon. Aisha Jumwa Katana is a voice that cannot be ignored. Being a woman doesn’t reduce her to a local politician. She stands a better chance in advocating for the rights and solutions to many issues affecting Kilifi County because she is popular and respected at the national level. So far it is more than three years but there is nothing tangible that has been delivered by the current Kilifi governor who has been in a constant campaign mode since 2022,” said a Kilifi resident.
Jumwa said her move to back PAA is that the party is homegrown.
Although PAA is still aligned with President William Ruto at the national level, the exit of Jumwa, a known mobiliser, has opened a vacuum within the UDA operations in Kilifi.
The possible candidate for UDA is now Jimmy Kahindi, who was denied ODM ticket in 2022 and joined President William Ruto’s presidential campaign machine.
What Jumwa’s move means is that the broad base coalition could have three candidates Gideon Mun’garo of ODM, Aisha Jumwa of PAA and Jimmy Kahindi of UDA battling out for the governorship.
UDA Secretary General while speaking in Kericho last weekend ahead of the party grass root elections hinted at having Kahindi as the party flag bearer for Kilifi County in the 2027 elections while noting that the party will field candidates in all elective positions in the country.
Kahindi headed President William Ruto’s 2022 campaigns in Kilifi County after he was denied the ODM ticket that was instead handed to Gideon Mung’aro who went ahead to win the governorship seat in the August 2022 polls.
Currently, Kahindi is a member of UDA’s National Elections Board that is charged with conducting party nominations and elections.
Kilifi County has always set the pace for coast politics and it remains to be seen how the political realignment will play out in the run up to the 2027 general elections.
