The United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) have opposed secession calls spearheaded by two Coast governors and 16 lawmakers.
Mombasa governor Hassan Joho, his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi, Kilifi senator Stewart Madzayo and 15 MPs Friday said they had started talks to ensure secession succeeds in protest against President Uhuru Kenyatta’s continued rule.
UK High Commissioner to Kenya Nic Hailey and his European Union counterpart, Stefano Dejak, opposed the call, saying Kenya should remain one country.
“Secession will not be helpful to the Coast region. If people remain united they will achieve more development,” he said in Mombasa.
Mr Joho claimed that devolution has not worked due to inadequate support from the national government.
“We are yet to enjoy the fruits of devolution as the national government has not implemented what is provided for in the Constitution,” he said. The campaign look set to taps into deep local grievances over land ownership and employment being in the hands of outsiders.
“It is their own opinion that the ambassadors are opposed to our secession calls. But we will stand firm and push for secession for us to achieve our ambitions of self-rule,” Mr Kingi said.
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