- The past week saw political activities building up in Mombasa as political bigwigs from both camps trooped to the region for vote-hunting missions for their candidates.
- Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua, ODM leader Raila Odinga and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka are among the top political brass who were in Mombasa to campaign for their candidates.
Image: LABAN WALLOGA
A political showdown is expected in Mombasa on Monday between Azimio la Umoja Coalition and the Kenya Kwanza as residents go to the ballot to elect a new governor.
The race to succeed Governor Hassan Joho has narrowed down to two candidates: Abdulswamad Nassir of ODM and Hassan Omar of UDA.
Both candidates have received endorsements from several communities in the last week as the extended campaign period came to a close Friday evening.
The past week saw political activities building up in Mombasa as political bigwigs from both camps trooped to the region for vote-hunting missions for their candidates.
Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua, ODM leader Raila Odinga and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka are among the top political brass who were in Mombasa to campaign for their candidates.
Last Wednesday, ODM leader Raila Odinga, accompanied by his presidential running mate Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, pitched camp in Mombasa to drum up support for Nassir.
This was Raila's first visit to Mombasa after the August 9 general election.
Raila held meetings with different communities at the Wild Waters complex in Nyali accompanied by a host of Azimio elected MPs and MCAs.
It was during the meeting that he asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chair Wafula Chebukati to disqualify himself from conducting the Monday polls and instead allow his vice chair Juliana Cherera to take over.
“Mombasa and Kakamega were targeted because of me and Martha, our opponents had sensed defeat so they intentionally postponed the elections to affect voter turnout for the presidential vote in our two strongholds,” Raila said.
Raila called on Mombasa and Kakamega residents to turn out in large numbers and vote for Nassir and Fernandes Barasa respectively.
Karua said that they will go door-to-door and ensure that people come out and vote for Azimio candidates during the Monday polls exuding confidence that Azimio was going to win.
"We already have 24 counties behind baba (Raila) while our opponents have 21. Let’s make it 26 on Monday and show them that we have the majority,” Karua said.
She said that if the people fail to elect Azimio governors and Raila wins the presidential case at the Supreme Court, then he will have a difficult time implementing the Azimio manifesto.
“I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to win Mombasa and Kakamega,” she said.
On Saturday, Wiper party boss Kalonzo Musyoka teamed up with former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu to consolidate the Akamba votes in Mombasa to rally behind Nassir.
Ngilu was in Mombasa since Wednesday traversing Changamwe and Jomvu constituencies where the community is largely concentrated.
The Kamba community is perceived to be the second largest voting bloc in Mombasa after the Mijikenda.
On Friday, former Murang’a woman representative Sabina Chege accompanied by her Nairobi counterpart Esther Passaris led a delegation of Azimio bigwigs including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Memusi Kanchori (Kajiado central), John Mbadi (Gwassi) among a host of MPs to drum up support for Nassir.
The team will be deployed as part of the voter protection unit from the Azimio side.
Gachagua also landed in Mombasa on Thursday to lead the Kenya Kwanza brigade in campaigning for Omar.
Gachagua held a three-hour consultative engaging over 3,000 Mombasa business and opinion leaders over the forthcoming gubernatorial elections on Monday.
“I have taken time to expound on our manifesto and the bottom-up economic model that can only be well implemented by our UDA Candidate.
“Our fruitful evening engagement has culminated in a consensus that the people of Mombasa will be safe in the hands of Hassan Omar as their next Governor,” said Gachagua.
Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has also pitched camp in Jomvu and Changamwe wooing the Kamba votes.
After being blocked by the Supreme Court and IEBC from contesting the Mombasa governor election, Sonko decamped to UDA declaring to support Omar.
His supposed running mate outgoing Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo, has pitched camp in Kisauni and Nyali teaming up with Omar’s running mate Selina Maitha, sister to former powerful cabinet minister and Kisauni MP, the late Karisa Maitha.
The two have been consolidating their votes in the two areas, especially the Mijikenda bloc.
Other known Kenya Kwanza political bigwigs that have trooped to Mombasa include former Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, Benjamin Tayari (Kinango), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi), John Njuguna ‘Kawanjiku’ (Kiambaa), Silvanus Osoro (South Mugirango) among others.
Former Kwale governor Salim Mvurya and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi are also in Mombasa campaigning for Omar.