Monday, July 14, 2008

LAMU WEST


HON. FAHIM YASIN TWAHA, MP (Narc -K)

Immediate former MP: Omar Twalib Mzee,
Other notable politicnas who have served in this constituency inlcludes, the late Abdulrehman Omar Cheka and the late Abu Somo Boa.



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Change of Tact As Battle for Lamu West Hots Up

By Mazera Ndurya
The Nation (Nairobi)
March 21, 2007


The incumbent, Mr Fahim Yassin Twaha, who won the seat on the then powerful and unassailable party, Kanu, now has to change tactics. The Mpeketoni settlement scheme, which has a 10,000-plus voters, mainly from the Mt Kenya region, voted for him overwhelmingly because Gatundu South MP Uhuru Kenyatta was the party's presidential candidate in 2002.

This time, Mr Twaha is reading the signs and has shifted camp to Narc-K of President Kibaki's supporters.
He will also rely heavily on kingmaker and business tycoon Tahir Sheikh Said (TSS, who is his father-in-law).
But first he will face little-known politician Swaleh Salim Swaleh Imu for the party's ticket.
He is confident and hopes that voters will judge him on his development record, pointing to the fact that he initiated projects that have seen at least a secondary school built in every location.

His opponents are accusing him of concentrating most of the resources in Mpeketoni. Mr Twaha thinks his opponents might be wrong in gauging their strength on the verdict of the Constitutional referendum. But the MP will be hard-pressed to show what he has done with the CDF money as there is little on the ground. His opponents in ODM-K include Ms Noor Salim Omar (commonly known as Hababa Nuru), chairman of the Lamu cultural promotion group Ghalib Alwy Sheriff (also nicknamed Bush from LDP wing), and former MP Omar Twalib Mzee of Labour Party of Kenya wing.

It is not known whether Mr Rishad Amana will contest on the Democratic Party ticket, switch to the party President Kibaki will choose, or decamp to ODM-K. Mrs Omar is a retired education officer who worked as a Teacher Advisory Centre (TAC) tutor. She used her position as the Lamu district branch chairperson of Maendeleo ya Wanawake for two terms to gain grassroots support. She will be the first woman in over 30 years to fight for the area's seat.

Mr Amana, who is a diehard supporter of President Kibaki's Democratic Party, will be making a third attempt.
He began politics in the 1990s, during the pressure for re-introduction of multi-partyism. This will give him a leverage against the others.
Mr Sheriff, who leads the organisation that is behind the successful Lamu cultural festival, is entering the field with good organisational skills. These have endeared him to the youth.

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PRE-2002 GENERAL ELECTION ANALYSIS

WILL TSS CALL THE SHOTS AGAIN?

By FRED OLUOCH
DAILY NATION
Monday, April 8, 2002

The overriding question in Lamu District is whether the gripping influence of powerbroker Twahir Sheikh Said, commonly known as TSS, will work in favour or against the political interests of Kanu. A business tycoon with wide-ranging interests in virtually the entire coastal region, TSS has for a long time been calling the shots in Lamu, where his preferred slate of candidates are normally assured of winning.

In the last election, the winners, assistant minister for local government Mohammed Hashim Salim Fumo (Lamu East) and Mr Fahim Yasin Twaha (Lamu West), benefited immensely from his backing. The duo are still enjoying his support and are careful not to rub him the wrong way despite growing criticisms that they lack courage to stand on their own feet.In separate interviews last week, both Mr Fumo and Mr Twaha, who is also TSS's son-in-law, conceded that the support is going to be crucial in their re-election bid, but insisted they had "matured" politically.

Thus indications are that things might go TSS's way in the absence of a strong candidate to challenge his firm grip on Lamu politics. Already, there is a growing resentment among other aspirants over what they perceive as TSS's belief that nothing can happen in Lamu district without his authority.

Notably, a number of aspirants in Kanu who had earlier shown interest are backing out, aware that the party tickets will go to TSS candidates. As a result, Opposition parties with some presence in the district, such as the Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), Ford-People and, of late, the unregistered Saba Saba Asili, are hoping for a major fallout during the Kanu primaries. Lamu, unlike the neighbouring districts, has always been placid, with political consciousness and activism quite low. When not grappling with the myriad of problems facing the district, residents are more concerned with day-to-day survival. Most MPs have usually had a quiet tenure until polls draw near.

This time round, however, political temperatures are likely to rise in the district that encompasses a group of islands – Pate, Manda and Lamu – over the presence of a large settler community from upcountry, who are seen to be enjoying better facilities at the expense of locals.In the spotlight is the Kikuyu community at Lake Kenyatta Settlement Scheme in Mpeketoni Division, Lamu West constituency, who constitute a huge voting block.

Settlers enjoying better facilities

The indigenous population complains that the settlers enjoy facilities such as piped water and health facilities. To top it all, they possess the precious title deeds while the indigenes have been fighting for the same without success. Other settlement schemes include Hindi, Witu and Mhamarani.

The main ethnic groups in Lamu district are the Bajuni (the majority), Boni, Orma, Pokomo, Sanye, Giriama, Barawa and Bohra community – who trace their roots to the Indian sub-continent. Ethnic tension aside, the dilapidated Garsen-Witu Road that is the lifeline of Lamu district will be a major campaign issue, with the Opposition hoping to take Kanu head-on over it. The road is yet to recover from damage inflicted by the 1997/98 El-Nino rains and is often impassable during rainy seasons as the River Tana breaks its banks and cuts off large sections, especially at Gamba.

Both Kanu and the Opposition will also have to content with the fact that virtually all income generating activities in the district, ranging from fishing to tourism, have experienced steady decline in recent years. Hard hitting is a slump in tourism, the lifeblood of the economy. It does not help matters that the Government is yet to lift a ban on large-scale harvesting of mangrove trees for export, an activity that was the livelihood of thousands of residents.

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TOUGH RACE FOR KANU DESPITE TWAHA'S LEAD

By FRED OLUOCH
DAILY NATION
Monday, April 8, 2002
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But for the overwhelming influence of Kanu Lamu branch chairman Twahir Sheikh Said (TSS), the battle for Lamu West would centre on the swelling numbers of settlers, who are causing concern among the indigenous population but serve as a major vote bank for politicians. Already, MP Fahim Yasin Twaha – a son-in-law of TSS who entered Parliament for the first time in 1997 – is facing intermittent grumbling that he is concentrating his development efforts among the settler community at the expense of indigenes, a charge he denied last week. Lamu West is much bigger that Lamu East, measuring about 70 km in diameter. It further incorporates the islands of Lamu and Manda, and is ethnically more diverse. Besides the populous Bajuni community, it is home to the Giriama, the Orma and the Pokomo.


Of major significance now is the large number of Kikuyu community at Lake Kenyatta Settlement Scheme in Mpeketoni Division. The mainly pro-Opposition community, who constitute almost half of the registered voters, provide the swing vote.

Kanu, which has dominated power in the constituency since re-introduction of political pluralism, remains the party to beat – and the ultimate winner may be decided at the Kanu nomination. That is why the majority of aspirants who have so far declared their interest are gunning for the party's ticket. But indications are that some of them might jump ship to the Opposition after losing out.

But, even in Kanu, Mr Twaha will not have a field day. Determined to wrestle the Kanu ticket from him is Sheikh Mohammed Abdulkadir, a former chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lamu branch. Sheikh Abdulkadir is a veteran politician and former nominated councillor. Also likely to be in the race is Mr Abdul Rahman, the youthful son of Lamu nominated councillor Abdi Maalim, who hails from Mokoe Location.
On the Opposition front, the Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) and Ford People are expected to field candidates. Mr Rishad Hamid Amana – who emerged a respectable second on a Ford People ticket, is now in the DP. He is a member of the party's National Executive Council and hopes to improve on his 1997 showing.

He will fight it out for the DP ticket with the proprietor of New Mvita Hospital, Dr Hamid Mohammed Abdalla, who unsuccessfully contested the Kanu primaries in 1997. Dr Abdalla, a pioneer doctor in Amu division, believes he was rigged out by TSS. There is also talk that former Lamu County Council chairman Abdalla Fadhil is considering contesting on a DP ticket. Mr Fadhil is popular among residents of Shella – a southern section of Lamu island – for his involvement in development activities.

Major issues will include the dilapidated Garsen-Witu Road that is often cut off during heavy rains, and the slump in tourism. In the absence of a serious challenger, Mr Twaha, who in the last election also benefited from the fact that voters were yearning for a change from the laid-back leadership of former assistant minister for labour and manpower development Abdul Karim Mohammed Ali, remains the frontrunner. Compared to previous MPs, Mr Twaha is perceived to have made a mark in regard to development projects, although critics say much of it has to do with his close relation with TSS, a charge he denies.

The MP will also have to contend with the ire of the indigenous population, who fault him for concentrating his efforts in Mpeketoni – and with the jinx where no MP has successfully defended his seat since the constituency was separated from the former larger Lamu East.

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1997 Parliamentary candidates:

FORD-P
Rishad Hamid Amana
KANU Fahim Yasin Twaha
KNC B M Bwanaheri




1 comment:

Unknown said...

Its a wonderful one one thing I suggest that you should have add CDF Funds and give us the break down of the funds was utilized since it started .