Taita Taveta county Governor Granton Samboja is the new Chairman, Jumuiya ya Kaunti za pwani (JKP).
Samboja takes over from his Kwale counterpart Salim Mvurya.
Samboja was elected during a meeting held at his residence in Mwakishimba Taita on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by Governors Hassan Joho(Mombasa), Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Dhado Godhana (Tana River ), Granton Samboja (Taita Taveta) and Emmanuel Nzai , CEO, JKP Secretariat.
Mvurya a close ally of the Deputy President William Ruto did not attend the meeting.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Samboja stated that it was agreed all Counties in the region would put together a united front in a bid to ensure togetherness and sustainable development is witnessed.
“ This time we will lead from the front. We expect support from those we have supported in previous years, “ Governor Samboja remarked, as he put in an apology for his Lamu counterpart Fahim Twaha who he said was sick and could not attend the meeting.
Adding “ When it comes to issues of sustainable development and good governance we have agreed as Governors that the Coast region won’t be on the menu but have a respectable seat at the table,”.
The four Governors have been on the forefront pushing for Coast unity. Joho and Kingi recently met at least 25 Mps from the Coast region to discuss the unity.
During the Taita meeting, the Governors also received a Cashewnut industry revival proposal from Empowering Farmers Foundation (EFF) Chairman, Mahesh Patel.
The collaboration seeks to empower small holder farmers by reviving the dormant cashew value chain in the Kenyan Coast region.
Dubbed the KOROSHO NI MAISHA PROJECT, the project aspires to reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of 350,000 farmer households in Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Mombasa and aims to transform the rural Kenyan coastal economy by increasing production to over 300,000 Metric Tonnes worth Kshs. 40 Billion annually by 2030.
The partnership is to involve equipping smallholder farmers with the knowledge and skills required to transition from subsistence farming to semi-commercialization.
