The land question, which has always vexed Coast residents, is at the forefront in campaigns for Mombasa governor. Incumbent Hassan Joho, Nyali MP Hezron Awiti, businessman and Jubilee politician Suleiman Shahbal and Senator Hassan Omar are actively in the running.
This is seen in the way Joho is determined to appease Likoni residents, who seem to be swaying towards Jubilee. The county is buying the expansive Waitiki farm for more than 7,600 squatters. Likoni is dominated by the Mijikenda community, which has the most registered voters. Their number stood at 109,000 in 2013. They have suffered the most over land issues.
In 2014, Mombasa had an estimated population of 1.2 million. Statistics show there are 455,112 registered voters.
Awiti has been calling on “foreigners” to help safeguard land belonging to the Mijikenda community, instead of taking it away from them. “Foreigners must learn to live with the natives. They should not be squatters in their own land,” Awiti said on April 23 at Kashani, Bamburi ward during the burial of Mijikenda leader Jonathan Chome. He appeared to be referring to people from outside the county.
