Sharp divisions have rocked the Luo community in Mombasa over who to endorse for Mombasa county governor seat in the upcoming general elections.
Several factions have continued to resurface, one throwing its weight behind former Nyali Mp Awiti Bollo, another one supporting Abdulswamand Nassir while the other endorsing businessman Suleiman Shahbal.
One group is branding itself Luo professional, another one includes the Luo elders, the Luo focus, Luo veterans and Luo coordination team, both of who are now claiming to politically bargain on behalf of the community in various political seats.
The community members are now urging politicians seeking elective positions to disassociate with what they called masqueraders out to rake in money from senior candidates in the pretext of supporting them in the elections.
“We have not sat down as a community to send someone to bargain for us, this must be understood, when we want to do so we will send our patron to go and negotiate for us,” Joseph Okungu a Nyali resident who comes from the community.
According to Party of National Unity Secretary General Michael Odongo and a member of the community, the Luo community is united and asked the Luo council of elders to speak in one voice and stop those that are tainting the image of the community.
“We have not sent anyone to Suleiman Shahbal,and those that are pretending to be speaking for the community, must know they are alone and they are deceiving the community, if there is any endorsement, we will do it unanimously,” stated Odongo.
The community has for previous years supported Mombasa governor Hassan Joho for county governor post, but as the 2022 general election approaches,it has continued to experience political differences.
http://ommydalla.co.ke/politics/item/2665-nassir-confident-of-mombasa-governor-win
“It has come to our attention that there are three groups purporting to be speaking on behalf of Luo community, we want to state that as a community we have our patron who is Hezron Awiti Bollo,and nationally we have Raila Odinga,so we would like to disassociate ourselves from the three groups one of them calling itself luo professionals,luo veteran,” he said.
Odingo said the only leaders who should talk on behalf of the community is though sitting political leaders and the council elders warning residents not to be used by the individuals who have appointed themselves as spokespersons.
Mvita Mp Abdulswamad Nassir and businessman Suleiman Shahbal who are both eyeing the Mombasa governor have separately met sections of the Luo community residing in the county, in a bid to gain their support.
