CHANGAMWE

Hon. Ramadhan Seif Kajembe, MP (ODM)
Assistant Minister,
Ministry of Environment & Mineral Resources


Immediate former MP: Hon. Kennedy Kiliku (1983-1997)

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WHERE THE KAMBA VOTE COUNTS

By PATRICK MAYOYO
DAILY NATION
Tuesday, May 7, 2002
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Since Independence, the politics of Changamwe has been determined by the ethnic composition of the constituency. In most elections prior to multi-party politics in 1992, it was almost a foregone conclusion that whoever got the backing of the numerically superior Kamba community would make it to Parliament.
But divisions have arisen since then as was the case in 1997 when Mr Kennedy Kiliku, then the MP, was bundled out after one of his former lieutenants stood against him, splitting the Kamba vote. Mr Kiliku, now the secretary-general of the Dock Workers Union, had reigned supreme between 1983 and 1997, including in a by-election held in 1995.

But in 1997, three of the seven candidates who contested the seat were Kamba and between them they garnered more than 14,000 votes of the 35,000 cast or 40 per cent of the votes.
Mr Kiliku lost to Mr Ramadhan Seif Kajembe by 1,511 votes after garnering 9,292 against Mr Kajembe's 10,703. It is on this background that candidates eyeing the Changamwe seat will be calculating their chances. Whoever sways the Kamba vote to his side stands a better chance of becoming MP. However, with the recent Kanu-National Development Party merger, the role of yet another block vote – the Luo community in the sprawling Bangladesh slum – might create a new scenario which could also detemine the outcome of the Changamwe poll.

Already, six candidates, Mr Kajembe, Mr Kiliku, two-time contender Mohammed Faki Khatib, Mr Justus Mbith Nzioka, who contested in 1997, and a newcomer, Dr Kibwana Abdalla Jaffi, are spoiling for a bruising battle.
Mr Kiliku first won the seat in 1983 and retained it in 1988. Come multi-party politics in 1992, Mr Kiliku again won a Democratic Party ticket. He also won in a 1995 by-election follwing a successful petition against him. But in 1997, Mr Kajembe of Kanu wrestled the seat from him.But recent changes on the local scene have seen new alliances emerge and could lead to voters electing their MPs on party lines. Apart from the recent Kanu-NDP merger and the National Alliance for Change – composed of the DP, Ford Kenya, National Party of Kenya and the unregistered Saba Saba Asili – another grouping that has emerged is the Kenya People's Coalition, comprising Ford People, Safina and Mr Kiliku's Labour Party of Kenya.

Whoever gets the Kanu ticket has a high chance of winning the seat. Supporters of the defunct NDP are expected to throw their weight behind the Kanu candidate. In 1997, NDP candidate Joseph Waudi garnered a respectable 6,500 votes. Although Mr Kiliku and Mr Kajembe are basking in their past glory as former MP and incumbent, they will contend with other forceful candidates.

Mr Kajembe's critics have pointed at his alleged failure to raise any Motion during his term in Parliament, an accusation he has dismissed, saying he raised pertinent issues of benefit to his constituents. "What is important to my constituents? Taking to Parliament issues that affect their daily lives or tabling a Motion that would take the entire parliamentary term to see it through?" he asked. The Changamwe MP will also be remembered for his opposition to a kiosk demolition campaign spearheaded by his Mvita counterpart, Cabinet Minister Shariff Nassir. The demolitions, seen as targeted at upcountry people, saw Mr Kajembe at one stage throw himself before a bulldozer to protect his constituents' kiosks.

But the demolition went on and Mr Kajembe may be in a tight corner as he will be hard put to explain to his supporters why they should vote for Kanu which was seen as the one behind the destruction of their source of livelihood. The MP has defended his development record, saying since he took over from Mr Kiliku, he had organised many fund raisers for schools and women's groups. "I have also improved the road network by ensuring that many roads damaged by the El Nino rains were recarpeted," he said.

The constituency received Sh200 million of the Sh350 million given to rehabilitate the roads in Mombasa, Mr Kajembe said. On his part, Mr Kiliku prides himself in the role he played in settling landless people through the establishment of schemes during his tenure.He will also be remembered for suing the government, through his Labour Party of Kenya, for retrenching civil servants. His position as the Dock Workers Union boss should also be a big boost for him. Dr Kibwana Abdalla Jaffi, 40, who is a new entrant in Changamwe politics, says he would tackle land problems in the constituency were he to be elected.Dr Jaffi, a consultant gynecologist at the Coast General and Mombasa hospitals, says his other mission will be to make his constituents self-reliant by enlightening them on their economic ability and self-confidence.

"I also intend to introduce a participatory approach in solving problems and involve the government and NGOs in reducing poverty levels in the constituency," he added. Although he has insisted that he is still consulting Changamwe voters before announcing on which party ticket he will contest, reports indicate that he was considering challenging Mr Kajembe for the Kanu nomination.

Another candidate, lawyer Mohammed Faki Khatib, 36, is not a new comer in Changamwe politics. He contested in 1992 and 1997 on a Ford Kenya ticket. In 1992, he came second to Mr Kiliku. He blames his failure to capture the seat on "tribal voting patterns". "But we have launched a major civic education campaign to enlighten the electorate on their rights and the dangers of voting for candidates along tribal lines," he said.This time, Mr Khatib says, he will not contest the seat on a Ford-K ticket. He, however, did not name the party but ruled out Kanu.

"I will definitely go for the seat on an Opposition ticket though I have not identified which one," he said. Mr Khatib is currently involved in efforts to improve education standards in the constituency by providing bursaries to needy children through the Changamwe Muslim Association. Pharmacist Justus Mbithi Nzioka is another aspirant for the Changamwe seat. The former Ministry of Health employee now runs his own pharmacies. He says he wants to provide new leadership. "What has been lacking in Changamwe is good governance and that is what I intend to offer."

He, however, says he is not ready to name the party ticket on which he will contest, adding that he is a member of National Convention Executive Council (NCEC) which is mediating between the two Opposition alliances, the National Alliance for Change and the Kenya People's Coalition.If elected to Parliament, he says he will spearhead development in Changamwe through self-help groups that will support small-scale entrepreneurs.

"The Akamba handicraft industry in Changamwe produces curios and is a major foreign exchange earner but the government has failed to adequately fund it and ensure it operates efficiently," he said. The aspirant promises to put on top of his aganda the plight of landless people in the constituency. He claims he is working with groups like Kishe Trust to fight land grabbing in the constituency.