Coast political leaders have accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of attempting to undermine the region’s economy after he urged tourists and investors to stay away from Kenya, saying the remarks threaten livelihoods that depend on tourism, foreign investment and maritime trade.
Speaking in Mombasa on Monday, Cabinet Secretary for Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Hassan Joho accused Gachagua of targeting economic activities outside his home region, saying his latest remarks were aimed at the tourism sector, which he described as the backbone of the Coast economy.
Joho alleged that Gachagua had consistently criticised development projects in other parts of the country while remaining silent on projects in his own region.
"It has become their norm to sabotage our economic activities so that we do not prosper. They have been doing it for years, so we know who they are," Joho said.
"He keeps criticising every project that is outside his area. Now he is targeting the tourism industry, yet the economy of our region is driven by the service industry. He never criticises, or even attempts to speak about, projects taking place in his own area."
The Cabinet Secretary said the hospitality sector employs thousands of people across the Coast and relies heavily on both domestic and international visitors.
"Hotels along the Coast employ many people and depend on tourism," he said.
Joho also defended the proposed multi-trillion-shilling oil refinery project in Lamu, describing it as the largest foreign investment currently earmarked for Kenya.
"The biggest foreign investment is earmarked for Lamu. All of a sudden, you present yourself as a concerned leader and say investment should not come to Kenya simply because, for the first time, Lamu has been identified for a mega project," he said.
He said attracting one major investment would help create confidence and encourage more investors to establish businesses in the region.
"If you open the door for just one investment, others will follow because it will become a logistics hub," he added.
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro also condemned Gachagua’s remarks, saying the Coast’s six counties depend heavily on tourism and would suffer the biggest economic impact if visitors stayed away.
"We condemn the remarks by DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua telling tourists not to come to Kenya and discouraging investors from coming to the country. As leaders from the Coast, we find those statements very disappointing because when you tell tourists not to come to Kenya, you directly affect the Coast. All six coastal counties depend on tourism," Mung’aro said.
He said the timing of the remarks was worrying, especially as Lamu prepares to host a major oil investment project.
"There is already a major oil project planned for Lamu. If you tell us you do not want investors to come to the Coast, and tourists should not come either, that is pure selfishness," he said.
Mung’aro questioned why similar calls had not been made regarding agricultural exports from Gachagua’s region.
"I have never heard him say that Kenyan tea or coffee should stop being exported because those products come from his region. Instead, he says tourism should stop because it benefits the Coast."
The governor said tourism, foreign investment and maritime trade remain key pillars of the regional economy.
"We depend on tourism. We depend on investors for economic growth. Kenya's ports are here at the Coast, in Mombasa and Lamu. If you say we should not receive investors and tourists should no longer come to Kenya, then what kind of economy are you proposing for our people and our children?" he asked.
Mung’aro said Coast leaders had agreed to collectively defend the tourism and investment sectors from political interference.
"As Coast leaders, we have agreed with one voice that tourism and investment should not be interfered with."
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir echoed the concerns, saying tourism remains one of the country’s biggest sources of revenue and warning that discouraging visitors from travelling to Kenya would have serious economic consequences.
"We have said this for the longest time. You are asking for one of the major sources of income for this region, and for the country in general, to be denied. Tourism is one of those major sources of income, and it is very saddening," Nassir said.
He said regional grievances should not be used to justify statements that could harm another part of the country’s economy.
"I agree with my brother's remarks that leaders should speak about issues affecting their own regions. However, when statements are made that are driven by hatred and are aimed at destroying the economy of another region, people will inevitably feel even more destabilised," Nassir said.
The leaders spoke amid growing criticism of Gachagua’s recent call urging foreign tourists and investors to avoid Kenya, with opponents arguing that the remarks could damage investor confidence and hurt the country’s tourism industry.
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