• On Saturday, a section of VDP members threatened to storm Awiti’s Nyali home, and force him to vie for the seat.
• “I have heard your outcry and will before the start of next week announce my official position on my ambitions,” Awiti said.
Image: JOHN CHESOLI
Former Nyali MP Hezron Awiti has moved to pacify his supporters who insist that he must be in the ballot for the Mombasa Gubernatorial seat.
Awiti has been sending mixed signals about his gubernatorial ambitions, a move that has left his supporters and members of his party, Vibrant Democratic Party at cross roads.
He however, said on Wednesday, that he will announce his next move on Sunday.
“I have heard your outcry and will before the start of next week announce my official position on my ambitions,” Awiti said.
The VDP party leader revealed to the Star that on Wednesday that he has been under pressure from his supporters and international friends to vie for the Mombasa governor seat for the second time.
“But I have been hesitant because there are a lot of issues at play especially now that VDP is in Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance.”
He said his bid will mean that Azimio will have three gubernatorial candidates in the August 9 elections with ODM’s Abdulswamad Nassir and Wiper’s Mike Sonko already in the running.
“I don't want to complicate matters but there are new developments that have had me thinking hard and seriously,” Awiti said.
However, political observers say Awiti may have been encouraged to vie for the seat after the entrance of Sonko into the race.
Mwakuja Mrombo, a political commentator in Mombasa said Awiti is a long-time friend of ODM leader Raila Odinga and would not wish to antagonise him.
“But since Sonko entered the race, his thinking may have changed. He may be thinking of going all out for the seat now that Sonko has somehow tipped the scales,” Mrombo told the Star on phone.
On Saturday, a section of VDP members threatened to storm Awiti’s Nyali home, and force him to vie for the seat.
The party members cited frustrations on Awiti’s mixed signals about his political future. They demanded that he gives them a clear roadmap.
“We have seen people declare interest in the Mombasa governor seat. We want to know what our party leader’s mind is saying. He should declare interest publicly,” Mtopanga MCA aspirant Isaiah Gor said.
Image: BRIAN OTIENO
Speaking at Railways Club, Gor and more than 300 other supporters including aspirants for different seats on the VDP party expressed worry that time was running out and could affect Awiti’s political plans.
On Monday, Awiti told the Star his party was not interested in only the governor's position but in helping the youth through policies that will empower them economically.
“VDP is in Azimio. We support Baba and we have an arrangement where we will campaign aggressively for him. VDP is a party that will look at the future of the Mombasa youths through policies that will help them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal’s supporters are close to reaching 30,000 signatures collected across all the 30 wards in Mombasa to compel him to vie for the governor's seat as an independent candidate.
Youths had distributed forms in all the 30 wards and aimed to collect at least 1,000 signatures from each ward.
They were displeased by Shahbal’s decision to step down in favour of Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir.
The two were battling for the ODM ticket to vie for Mombasa governor.
Their battle had threatened to tear the party apart, with increasing rivalry in ODM rallies until President Uhuru Kenyatta and party leader Raila Odinga intervened.
Sonko will be deputised by MP Ali Mbogo who insists that working with Sonko is for the benefit of Mombasa people.
“We are in a big battle to save Mombasa. This is a crusade. And Mbogo alone cannot make it even if I join hands with my fellow poor people.”
He said Shahbal stepping down for Nassir was a sign that the bourgeoisie in Mombasa want to continue controlling the wealth in the county.
“He not only stepped down but stepped down and supported his fellow bourgeoisie. They have come up with a plan to retain the status quo,” said Mbogo.
He said Sonko is a pro-poor person and that is why he agreed to stepdown for him so they could form a formidable force.
Mbogo said Mombasa has cartels that need to be dismantled and their team stands a good chance to effect that.