- Nassir’s political strategist has however said Shahbal is an underdog who is desperately seeking attention.
- The two are battling for the ODM ticket in the race to succeed Hassan Joho.
Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal has claimed Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir is being used by businesspeople and some politicians as a project to safeguard their interests.
Shahbal and Nassir are both battling for the ticket to fly the ODM flag in the race to succeed Hassan Joho as Mombasa governor.
The two have been trying to outdo each other as they seek party delegates’ blessings.
Party leader Raila Odinga has already publicly distanced himself from the nomination politics, saying both are his children and he would not endorse anyone.
On Monday evening, during an interview on NTV, Shahbal said: “My brother Abdulswamad is a project. A project of businesspeople and politicians who want to impose someone whom they want to use.”
However, Nassir’s camp on Tuesday told the Star they are a project of the people who twice elected them to office to defend their rights and welfare.
Speaking on phone, Nassir’s political strategist Mohamed ‘Amadow’ Hussein said Shahbal is an underdog who is desperately seeking attention through name calling.
“We are not answerable to and do not answer underdogs,” Amadow said.
He said Nassir has been using his strength as a two-term Mvita MP to amplify the voices of the Mvita people and those of Mombasa residents at large.
“Our strength comes from the people who elected us. That’s why we are the people’s project,” he said.
He said Nassir was not elected to answer to idlers who want to create propaganda in a bid to curtail the progress the MP is making in his bid to become governor.
Speaking on Monday evening, Shahbal expressed confidence he will clinch the ODM ticket in the party primaries.
The ODM National Elections Board has said, in a bid to avoid fallouts amongst members, they are encouraging consensus among aspirants for various seats on the ODM ticket.
However, the ODM NEB chair Catherine Muma said should there be no consensus, the party will have to go for primaries.
“We want a non-adversarial method of electing our party officials because every member matters even if we have different opinions,” Muma said when she visited Mombasa on October 5.
Apart from Shahbal and Nassir, Mombasa Deputy Governor William Kingi is also eying the seat through the Orange party.
He has however concentrated his efforts in selling his agenda to the people at the grassroots and has avoided confrontations.
Shahbal on Monday defended himself against accusations of being a party hopper, which is being propagated by Nassir.
He said that he started his active politics in ODM because of his friendship with ODM party leader Raila Odinga since 2000.
In 2013, however, he was forced to jump ship to Wiper after he felt he would be elbowed out of the ODM nominations.
“I left ODM in 2013 because of circumstances,” he said.
In 2017, he vied for the seat on a Jubilee ticket.
“Now, the prodigal son has come back home,” Shahbal declared, expressing confidence he will clinch the ODM ticket.
Nassir says he has done more for Mombasa people than Shahbal has.
“Today, KPA [Kenya Ports Authority] workers will finally receive their pay increment because of our efforts,” Amadow said.
He said Mama Ngina traders are back at the refurbished facility because of efforts of the Mvita MP.
Shahbal and Nassir have however both asked Mombasa residents to stick with ODM where, they say, their (residents) interests will be protected.
The two have expressed concern about the low voter turnout that has been experienced in the ongoing mass voter registration, which ends on November 2.