The new found bromance between UDA Vice Chairman Hassan Omar and ODM Deputy leader Hassan Joho seems to have shaken the UDA family in Mombasa.

Omar has recently been publicly supporting Joho in his bid to become the ODM party leader should incumbent Raila Odinga move to Addis Ababa to become the African Union Commission chairman.

Omar was among Coast leaders who attended an iftar at Joho's Nyali home a week ago.

During the event, Omar called on Coast leaders to stand with Joho in his quest to inherit Raila Odinga as the ODM party leader.

"My brother Hassan, we wish you all the best and stand with you in this. I have asked my people in UDA to also stand with you as Coast, let us all be united as the Coast people and leaders" said Omar.

On Thursday, a section of UDA members mostly allied to Nyali Mp Mohammed Ali criticised the new friendship between Omar and Joho terming it "not helpful to the UDA party".

The disgruntled party members, led by Mombasa coordinator Samir Omar, denied claims party members support Joho’s ODM bid.

“At an Iftar dinner this week, he said UDA members have come together to support a rival party. That is not true. That is his personal opinion and personal move,” Samir told journalists.

He accused Omar of escaping his leadership role and failing to unite UDA while supporting a rival party.

“How can you work with a rival party yet the party that sponsored you and which you are a high-ranking official has problems, which you have not solved yet?” Samir posed.

On Saturday, another wing of UDA members came out to defend the unity between Omar and Joho.

Led by the UDA Mombasa Chairman Mutungwa Wambua, said the unity between the two leaders (Omar and Joho) has the blessings of party members.

"Why should it be an issue for you if two leaders from the same region unite?, what is your agenda?' posed Wambua.

Adding "This is not the first time that leaders from different parties  are uniting, this has happened before, our President has also united and even met the opposition leader Raila Odinga, so what is the big deal about two leaders from Coast region coming together"

On his part Mgandi Kalinga accused the coordinator Samir Omar of being a stooge.

"We are aware that the coordinator is a stooge and he is just bitter. What Hassan Omar is doing has the blessings of party members. We will always follow his instructions" said Kalinga.

Adding "Joho is our son and one of our own , we have a responsibility of ensuring that he becomes the next ODM Party Leader."