A gigantic political battle is looming in the race to succeed Governor Ali Hassan Joho at the helm of Mombasa County Government as gubernatorial candidates begin to take their campaigns to the grassroots ahead of the August 2022 polls.
At least six candidates have shown interest to take the mantle from Joho whose term expires next year after leading the county for two terms as the first governor.
Businessman Suleiman Shahbal, MPs Abdulswamad Nassir (Mvita), Ali Mbogo (Kisauni), Mombasa deputy governor Dr William Kingi and former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar have all declared interest in the race.
Former Mombasa County Secretary Francis Thoya also declared his interest in the seat as former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar takes a second shot at it this time vying on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.
The titanic battle is however between ‘loyal servant’ Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir and the ‘prodigal son’ Suleiman Shahbal who finally decided to go back home as they both seek the ODM ticket.
Both Nassir and Shahabal have been trying to outshine each other posing for photos with ODM party leader Raila Odinga whose frequent visits to Mombasa have shown that a lot is at stake on who will take over from Joho.
Shabhal who twice unsuccessfully vied for the seat and lost to Joho recently resigned from the Jubilee Party and rejoined ODM, a move that is semed to have sent chills at Nassir's camp.
http://ommydalla.co.ke/politics/item/2329-shahbal-ditches-jubilee-makes-u-turn-to-odm
Nassir a two time Member of Parliament for Mvita constituency has in both occasions been given direct ticket by the party and was poised to be ODM’s flag-bearer in next year’s general election.
He now faces an uphill task of going for nominations for the first time in his political career.
In Raila's recent tour, Nassir was part of a private breakfast meeting that saw the ODM leader meet a section of central leaders at a Mombasa hotel.
However soon after photos of Raila and Shahbal surfaced online with Shahbal quick to share them on all his social media platforms as the two continue throwing jabs at each other on who had baba’s eye to go for the seat.
In a bid to guarantee him a win, Shahbal has poached Joho’s political schemers among them Major (Rtd) Idriss Abdirahman to help him venture into the murky political waters next year.
“Shahbal will for the third time attempt to capture the post, it is a do or die affair and he cannot afford to lose again,” said a senior official within his quarters.
Even though Shahbal has declared to run on ODM ticket, sources within ODM Mombasa branch said he is yet to go for new registration.
Last month, Raila honoured an invite by Nassir to be the chief guest during an event for the renewal of Mvita’s National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) issuance of cards to over 3,000 vulnerable families.
Leader after leader who addressed the public hailed praises for the Mvita legislature piling pressure on the ODM leader to endorse him for the seat, but Raila downplayed them stating that he would leave it to the people to decide on their preferred flag bearer for the governor’s seat.
" Hiyo ya ugavana ni yenu (The governorship decision is yours. You will decide who will become governor). As ODM we are going to conduct free and fair nomination" said Raila.
Nassir, who has been in ODM since 2013, described Shahbal as a party hopper, who campaigned vigorously against ODM in the previous elections saying he is better placed to carry the ODM flag in 2022.
“In 2022, the person standing behind this microphone (him) will be the ODM governor for Mombasa,” said Nassir.
Mombasa deputy governor William Kingi has also declared that he will join in the mix to take over from his boss on an ODM ticket.
The soft spoken Deputy Governor said that he was ready to battle it out with Nassir and Shahbal though pundits argue that the odds do not favour him.
On March 4, Kingi hinted that he is still in the race to succeed Joho, but his popularity in the region has not been felt as it had been expected.
"Spent some quality time with Baba. He reaffirmed his commitment to ensure that ODM nominations will be free and fair. With your vote and the grace of God, I Dr William Kazungu Kingi will be your next Governor 001" captioned Kingi in one of his recent photos with Odinga and Nassir.
Former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar is expected it give a second shot after failing to clinch the seat in 2017 running on a wiper ticket.
Omar a close ally and confidant of deputy president William Ruto is expected to vie on the newly formed United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.
He was a distance third in 2017 after he was trounced by Joho.
Kisauni law maker Ali Menza Mbogo, a first-time MP has also declared interest in the seat and has since been traversing one village after the other popularizing his ‘Hodihodi’ political campaign train.
Mbogo is looking to ride on the Mijikenda community who constitute about 50 percent of the Mombasa population according to 2019 Census.
Former Mombasa County Secretary Francis Thoya had in 2018 started his grassroots campaigns, but went silent after sometime, nothing much has been heard or seen from him.
Thoya had been poised to deputies Joho in 2017, but behind the scene manoeuvers saw him being locked out and Kingi appointed into that position.
