Nyali MP Mohammed Ali has hit out at critics saying their smear campaign against him will not stop him from helping women in Mombasa and across the country.
A commissioner in the powerful Parliamentary Service Commission, Ali has been crisscrossing Mombasa county helping women groups with much-needed financial boost to undertake or expand their projects.
This has seen him reach out to women in Marimani, Bombo and Kashani in the Kisauni sub-county, Bububu, Shika Adabu and Mtongwe in the Likoni sub-county, Alidina and Mamlai in the Jomvu sub-county, Tononoka and Burukenge in Mvita sub-county, among other areas.
He has so far spent about Sh3 million on the women empowerment program.
“We will walk in Mombasa. Whether they like it or not we will help women in Mombasa,” he said.
He spoke at the Congo Boys area of Mwembe Tayari in the Mvita sub-county where he helped boost two women groups with Sh200,000 to expand their small businesses.
However, he has faced backlash from ODM MPs and some of his UDA counterparts in the county who have accused him of overstepping his mandate and courting trouble by venturing into other leader’s constituencies.
Mombasa woman representative Zamzam Mohamed, County assembly Speaker Aharub Khatri, and former Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo are some of the leaders who have bashed the former journalist recently.
Mohamed has accused Ali of destabilizing the country by cheap publicity stunts.
“How can someone who does not even have a house in Mombasa, who stays in hotels whenever he comes to the county, claim to know the problems of the people of Mombasa?” Mbogo has been saying.
However, Ali on Friday said he is only a messenger doing President William Ruto’s work, which he promised women during campaigns.
He said being a commissioner in PSC, he is above all other MPs in the country and has no boundaries in the country.
“When you see me here, I have three caps. I represent our president who has sent me to Mombasa County to help women, I am also the only MP on the government side in Mombasa and I am also here as a PSC commissioner.
“So, they come here and ask you what the Nyali MP is doing here in Mvita, tell them he is a government MP, he has no boundaries,” Ali said.
Ali said President Ruto picked him to do his work because they are on the same boat and he does not report to any boss in Mombasa.
“The others will first report to their bosses and seek permission before helping women. They don’t fear the voters, they fear their sponsors. I don’t do that because I have no sponsor. That is why the President has faith in me,” he said.
Women leader Mama Salma said the many leaders they have sought help from have been giving them promises with nothing tangible coming out of it in the end.
“We, village elders and Nyumba Kumi ambassadors, also want to be empowered. We have formed our groups that need support. We also want to do business. Want chairs and tents too,” Mama Salma said.
She said some chiefs’ offices in Mvita sub-county are also in pathetic states.
“They do not have toilets. It is a big shame. We have no toilets yet we receive many guests. Please help us, Ali. Tell our president we need toilets in our chiefs’ offices,” she said.
Mombasa Island assistant county commissioner Robin Ngeywo asked women to support the government in all its initiatives.
He said the government is deliberately targeting women because they are the social pillars of society.
“When you call for social meetings, the majority of those who will show up are women. If you support women, you are supporting the whole society,” Ngeywo said.
Ali said President Ruto knows that when women are empowered, the men and the children will also benefit and that is why he sent him to help women in Mombasa.
This, he said, is in line with President Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
