Omar’s UDA faction team line-up for June 22 party polls

UDA members allied to party vice chairman Hassan Omar have finally formed a united team they say will take Mombasa by storm.

The camp had several members vying for the same positions in the upcoming UDA grassroots elections set for June 22, setting the stage for a possible fallout.

However, last Sunday, Omar moved to forestall any fallout and directed that all those interested in similar positions, especially the county chairmanship, decide among themselves who will take what position and who will step down.

On Thursday, after several long, day and night meetings, there is now a clearer picture of the team that will aggressively campaign for the party positions.

Omar unveiled the first part of the team which includes businessman and politician Ali Kitaka, who will now vie for the UDA Mombasa county chairman position after his opponent Mutungwa Wambua stepped down for him.

Mutungwa will go for the UDA Mombasa county secretary general position.

Fatma Barayan, who vied for the Mombasa county woman representative position in the 2022 general elections, will go for the UDA Mombasa county women leader position.

She will also be in charge of the grassroots campaigns as the project manager.

Barayan, who is also the Youth Enterprise Fund chairperson, said unity of purpose is what will move the party forward.

“As UDA leaders, we have to work together to ensure we take all the elective seats in Mombasa come 2027,” she said.

Barayan said although there have been verbal wars between the four different UDA camps in Mombasa, democracy should prevail.

“We don’t want discriminatory elections. That is why we have given all an opportunity to vie for whatever positions they want,” she said.

Barayan said UDA in Mombasa is now working towards advancing the party agenda for the people at the grassroots and making it even stronger than before.

“In the end, UDA is one party and belongs to all. Let us work together so we can achieve the dreams of the hustlers in Mombasa ad across the country,” she said.

Omar said those outside his camp will find it rough both on June 22 and in 2027.

He said UDA has become a big vessel that everyone wants to climb on board but there are elements that are still hell-bent on destroying the party from within.

“I had no preferred candidate. I only wanted us to go for grassroots elections but some people advised against it wanting consensus instead. They wanted particular people to be installed as leaders,” Omar said.

He said he had understood party leader and President William Ruto’s vision and wanted the people at the grassroots to choose their own leaders.

“I knew what they were proposing would be counterproductive to the party but they believed they could go to Nairobi and influence matters. Here we are going for grassroots elections,” Omar said.

He said after Thursday, they will again sit down and draw another line-up for the other different positions including county treasurer, organising secretary, among others, and then later come up with the subcounty team line-ups.

“Our problem is different. We have so many people and we have to take care of all of them. If it was in football, our reserve bench would also fill the stadium,” Omar, an EALA MP, said.

He said there will be no losers in UDA. All will be winners in one way or another.

Mutungwa, who is also eyeing the Changamwe MP seat in 2027, said he will work with Kitaka to ensure the team wins all the seats in the June 22 party grassroots

“Let us reaffirm our dedication to UDA by fostering understanding, promoting inclusivity and championing unity in all that we do. The elections will only make us a better team and I’m confident democracy will prevail,” he said.

Mutungwa urged all UDA members in Mombasa to continue with the spirit of unity to make the party stronger.

He said his decision to step down in favour of Kitaka was motivated by the need to enhance unity in the ruling party.

“I thank those who stood by me telling me not to step down. I had also decided that I should go to the ballot box. But politics is not about hatred," Mutungwa said.

“I said I would not be the first to divide this team led by Hassan Omar in history. We are going to be held accountable for the decisions we make today.” 

Kitaka said the vying for the UDA Mombasa county chairman position is not about being a better leader but about willing to sacrifice for the sake of the party.

He praised Mutungwa for his sacrifice, saying he has shown great leadership.

“I will not let you down, our leader Omar,” Kitaka said.

He said UDA lost the Mombasa governor's position because there was no proper structure in 2022.

UDA garnered 44 per cent of the votes cast in Mombasa for the governor position.

This time, however, he said he will ensure the party has a proper structure to win the seat.

“We will make sure all the leaders who will vie for elective positions on UDA tickets scoop them in 2027. We will work more efficiently and effectively," Kitaka said.

“I assure you, governor, in 2027, we will take over the leadership of Mombasa county with you at the helm.”

He said he will lead the members in unity, setting the example to be followed by all the UDA members in the county.