Beware of conmen, Saido tells Nyali electorate
BY BRIAN OTIENO @Yobramos4 Sunday, October 18, 2026
Residents of Nyali constituency in Mombasa have been asked to shun politicians who only remember them during the electioneering period and disappear once elections are over.
The warning came from businessman Said Abdalla who is seeking the Nyali MP seat in the 2027 elections.
He said politicians who are only seen months to elections should not be entrusted with leadership positions.
The race for the Nyali MP seat has attracted at least 15 aspirants who have expressed interest in succeeding incumbent Mohammed Ali. The lawmaker is eying the Mombasa governor seat in the 2027 general elections.
Among those in the race are former Star photojournalist Jacob Elkana, businessman Stanley Gitonga, Mombasa county chief officer Pauline Odinga, administrator Nelson Alfayo, businessman Abdikadir Dekow and former Raila aide Major (rtd) Idris Abdulrahman.
Others are eye specialist Sanjeev Argarwal, Bethwel Washington, Abdulswamad Ali, Tom Ogwanjo, Japheth Marine and Abdalla Ibrahim.
On Saturday, Abdalla said many of those who have declared interest have nothing to show that they are capable of bringing development to residents.
He said some aspirants have previously contested the seat and disappeared from the public once the results were announced, only to resurface in the next electioneering period.
“Where have they been all this time? Is it that the problems Nyali people face disappear when elections end and only reappear when the next elections come for them to come out now and claim they are helping Nyali people?” Abdalla said.
He spoke as he intensified his trader empowerment and voter registration drive in Nyali.
The businessman sai small-scale traders in Nyali have for a long time been left by those in authority.
“The little that we do is according to our ability. It is not that we have billions of shillings in our accounts. We only have several hundred thousands which we share with our fellow Nyali residents because sharing is caring,” he said.
He accused some aspirants of dividing Nyali residents along tribal, class and religious lines.
“Do not allow someone you have not seen in three or four years to come and preach to you that you should vote for them because they are from your ethnic group, social class or religion," he said.
“Where were they when our little Messi lost his life because of an open septic tank? Where were they in such times when we are grieving? Did they comfort us? Did they help in any way?”
Nyali has traditionally not only attracted the highest number of hopefuls in general elections but also the highest number of political greenhorns, who venture into the murky waters of politics for the first time.
In 2013, there were 15 aspirants for the seat, which was won by then Wiper party’s Hezron Awiti.
In 2017, it attracted nine aspirants. Ali won on an independent ticket.
In 2022, it attracted eight candidates.
Nyali is the second most populous subcounty in Mombasa county with 216,458 people according to the latest census report, and has the second highest number of registered voters at 124,253 as per the last general elections.
The IEBC has capped spending by aspirants at Sh23,115,519.
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Instant Analysis:
PICs:Mombasa businessman Said ‘Saido’ Abdalla hands Mama Milka a cheques worth Sh50,000 to boost her business in Kongowea on Saturday / BRIAN OTIENO
Mombasa businessman Said ‘Saido’ Abdalla in Kongowea on Saturday / BRIAN OTIENO
