Written by Joseph Amunya Otieno 2012-05-13 16:02:00 Read 871 Times

Assistant minister Francis Baya in Lugari.

The government has been asked to seek dialogue with members of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) in order to avert a possible national conflict at the coast of Kenya.

Assistant minister in the ministry of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons Mr. Francis Baya said this when he addressed parents, teachers and students during a fundraiser at Mukuyu Girls Secondary in Lugari district.

Mr. Baya asked the government to stop ignoring the secession threats issued by MRC and instead address itself to some of the sensitive issues raised by coastal residents.

In apparent reference to the ongoing saga involving board of directors at Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the assistant minister accused a clique of Ministers and Permanent Secretaries of nominating board directors and members to parastatals under their jurisdiction on tribal grounds.

Baya singled out coast province as the most discriminated region when it came to the country’s top job opportunities, noting for example that a bigger percentage of workers of all cadres at KPA were from one tribe outside Mombasa.

“The problem at KPA is a problem of tribalism,” said Baya.

Baya, who has declared interest in the Kilifi County Governor seat, caused laughter when he said that even simple jobs such as sweeping in big hotels, factories and industries have been taken up by members from non-coastal tribes.

As the country approaches electioneering period, the Ganze legislator appealed to the two Principals, President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to quickly intervene by looking for means and ways of amicably solving the teething problems at the coast and other regions in order to avoid polarizing the country.

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