Mvita Mp Abdulswamad Nassir on Tuesday named former Mombasa county secretary Francis Thoya as his running mate in the Mombasa governor's race.

Thoya a journalist by profession also served as the Mombasa county executive member for Lands. 

Thoya a close ally of Mombasa governor Hassan Joho left the county government in 2019 after he was appointed as a director for the United Kingdom’s (UK) Department for International Development (DFID). He was overseeing UK-based activities along the Kenyan Coastline.

"I have settled on Thoya after an extensive consultation with the people of Mombasa and a rigorous vetting exercise which involved several candidates. I weighed the candidates based on their abilities, integrity and principles and out all of them Thoya emerged the top " said Nassir.

Adding "I was looking for someone who also shares my values and principles, someone who can serve the people of Mombasa well".

On his part Thoya called on Mombasa residents to avoid and reject leaders dividing them on religious and tribal lines.

"I decided to stop politics and join the British high commission in 2019 but just recently a group of elders and respected individuals from the county approached me and asked me to come and help my brother Abdulswamad in this journey. Yesterday was my last day at the British high commission and am now ready to hit the ground and make sure we win this race of which I'm sure we will win". said Thoya .

Adding " Mombasa has a rich heritage and history of bringing together several tribes and religions and this is something that we must safeguard as the people of Mombasa, No one should try to divide us in any way, the best way to reject those trying to divide us is by defeating them in the August election. My mother is a luo, father Mijikenda and wife is from Taita so I will be in the forefront in ensuring that there is inclusivity and that  we as the people of Mombasa live together".

According to analysts, Nassir settled on  Thoya, a Mijikenda because they are the single largest voting bloc in Mombasa.

Initially Thoya was also planning to run as the next governor of Mombasa before shelving his plans.

"I remember there was a time we were at the same function with Nassir's mother Mama Nassim, and she asked me if I will make it to the governor race, I told her that I was in the race until the end, but I would like to now assure her that I'm one hundred percent behind her son" shared Thoya.