ODM boss Raila Odinga and deputy leader Hassan Joho seem to be at crossroads on their preferred candidate for the Nyali MP seat.
While Mohamed Ali enjoys a cordial relationship with Raila, many feel that Saeed Salim, Joho’s cousin, is the governor’s favorite.
Differences between the two aspirants led to an abrupt end to ODM’s mega rally in Mombasa
on Sunday, although bigwigs had already addressed the mammoth crowd.
Ali had asked Raila to lift his hands from where he was seated, perhaps as a sign of endorsement.
But Salim reportedly blocked the crowded path and shoved him, prompting Ali's irate supporters to throw objects at the dias.
Joho was forced to end the meeting when chaos erupted.
Salim has claimed that nominations, due to be held next month, will not be free and fair. But Ali has dismissed this as hot air.
"The differences should not be confused to be personal. Delegates will decide," Ali said on phone on Monday.
Salim denied blocking Ali off and accused other aspirants of causing chaos at the scene.
“When this happened, crowds started to boo him as he was speaking at the top of his voice claiming he was being denied the opportunity to hold his (Raila's) hand,” Salim said.
Joho hopes to gain support from Nyali as it is considered the most cosmopolitan constituency in the region.
Analysts say with 100,000 registered voters, and non-natives being the majority (60-70 per cent of the total voters), Nyali will determine the winner of the race.
This is based on a past trend, where indigenous communities, including the Swahili and the Mijikenda, do not vote in large numbers.
In 2013, Joho won the governor's seat with 132,583 votes in the whole of Mombasa, just 32,000 short of the number of registered persons in Nyali.
Nyali has attracted eight aspirants while other constituencies have at most three each.
The incumbent Hezron Awiti intends to vie for Joho's seat on a Wiper Ticket in the August 8 polls.