UDA brigade in Mombasa reject ODM zoning proposal

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The UDA brigade in Mombasa has rejected the zoning idea that is being floated by their broad-based counterparts, ODM.

Led by UDA secretary general Hassan Omar, the President William Ruto lieutenants have asked him to allow them to compete at the county level, while supporting his re-election bid, a matter that is causing tension in the county.

In his voter registration sensitisation drives across the six sub-counties of Mombasa, Omar has been insisting he will be in the ballot for the Mombasa governor position.

There is fear among UDA supporters on the ground that UDA could possibly shelve their gubernatorial ambitions in favour of ODM’s incumbent Abdulswamad Nassir because of the broad-based arrangement.

However, last Wednesday, at the Burhaniya Sports Ground during a meeting with village elders and Nyumba Kumi Ambassadors from Mvita su-county, Omar sort to allay those fears saying he will be on the ballot and President Ruto himself is aware of his quest.

“I will be on the ballot......and President William Ruto personally knows my quest here in Mombasa,” Omar said.

On Saturday, at Black Devil Ground in Jomvu, Omar reiterated his stance saying Mombasa needs a better

“In Mombasa, it will be five fresh (first five-year term) for UDA, and the second term for Ruto! For those who know football this time, Mombasa and the Coast will field the first XI and I will be in the first XI,” Omar declared.

UDA Mombasa chair Ali Kitaka told their ODM counterparts to set their eyes on the ball, which he said is ensuring President Ruto is re-elected for his second and final term.

Kitaka, however, said at the county level, they are free to field anyone one they please, and thus should not be bothered by UDA fielding their preferred candidates also.

“We will field candidates in all county and sub-county positions. We do not want issues of zoning here,” Kitaka said.

Omar said there will be a ward delegates conference for UDA candidates for all positions at the county level.

“All those who want to vie for different positions will be free to vie for them,” Omar said.

He noted the ruling party will use the same structures to push the voter registration drive across the county and other parts of the Coast region.

Other governor hopefuls like former Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo have since jumped ship from UDA and into the Linda Mwananchi fearing the zoning proposal will scatter their gubernatorial bid.

Omar said what Mombasa lacks is good governance, a jab thrown at incumbent governor Nassir.

However, the ODM governor has since downplayed Omar’s assertion saying his development record speaks for itself and that it is up to Mombasa residents to weigh their options.

In a thinly veiled jab at Omar, Nassir in Changamwe declared that he does not need approval from any politician in Mombasa, noting that he has the approval of their bosses at the national level.

“If you do not think I am worthy, your boss has seen my worth,” Nassir said during a function in Changamwe last Saturday.

Political observers say he was referring to his excellent relationship with President Ruto, who has embraced Nassir like his own son and close confidante.

Nassir has been campaigning for Ruto’s re-election as he does his own re-election bid, saying both the president and himself have excellent development records that will do the campaigning for both of them.

“Those who have eyes can see,” he said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

For many residents, it is not yet clear who the actual candidates for the Mombasa governor race in 2027 will be because of the confusion brought about by the broad-based government arrangement which has seen both UDA and ODM cooperate politically. It is a game of wait-and-see for those looking to be governor in Mombasa in2027.