Joho, Kingi defend Ruto, hit out at opposition over Coast development

Cabinet Secretary for Mining Hassan Joho and his counterpart Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro Kingi used a weekend public rally in Mombasa to push back against opposition figures they accused of exploiting Coast region grievances for political capital without delivering tangible results.

Joho, the former Mombasa Governor who served as Cabinet Secretary under President William Ruto's administration, argued that critics who now position themselves as advocates for the Coast had ample opportunity to address historical marginalization during previous administrations but failed to act. He pointed to infrastructure delays, limited port revenue sharing and underfunded schools as issues that festered during earlier governments the opposition once controlled.

"Where were these champions when decisions were being made that locked out the Coast from its own resources?" Joho told a charged crowd in Mvita constituency. "Ruto is the one putting money on the ground."

Kingi echoed those sentiments, defending road construction projects and recently commissioned water schemes in Kilifi and Kwale counties as evidence of the current government's commitment to a region that has long accused successive administrations in Nairobi of neglect.

The Coast has historically wielded significant political leverage ahead of national elections, with its bloc of eight counties capable of shaping presidential outcomes. Opposition formations, including Raila Odinga's Azimio grouping, have traditionally drawn substantial support from the region.

Both leaders dismissed opposition narratives as opportunistic, urging residents to assess development delivery rather than campaign rhetoric. Critics, however, countered that the rally was itself electioneering ahead of the 2027 cycle, with Joho widely regarded as a potential presidential contender whose fortunes depend in part on consolidating his Coast base under Ruto's political umbrella.