- Omar said there were 486 people in charge of President Ruto’s campaign in Mombasa, both directly and indirectly.
- Out of these, he has empowered over 290 through group business ventures, and has so far used over Sh30 million for this.
Image: JOHN CHESOLI
UDA vice chairman Hassan Omar has hit out at UDA politicians who have been grumbling against President William Ruto after losing political races in 2022 and failing to get government appointments.
Some former UDA MCA aspirants in Mombasa have been complaining they have been left out after failing to land government jobs while some of their colleagues got jobs.
Omar said instead of constantly complaining about President Ruto and his regime, the 2022 candidates should use their losses to re-strategise and come up with winning formulas.
“In losing there is more of an experience than in winning,” Omar said.
He spoke in Junda, Kisauni subcounty on Thursday after inaugurating the Mwamsha Company, a venture within the Built Environment born out of his Hassan Omar Hassan Empowerment Programme.
He said even he learned more after losing the Mombasa governor race than he did after winning the Mombasa senator race in 2013, and had to re-strategise.
He said those who still stood with the party, in loyalty, despite losing, will likely be the party’s candidates in the next general election, warning that those who constantly complain might be locked out.
“If you are not careful, they will be the candidates tomorrow. Not you,” Omar said.
This comes barely three days after nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi asked Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to convene a meeting of the Mombasa UDA coordinators and some MCA aspirants who lost, who she said have been left in the cold after working hard for the party.
Senator Abdillahi said the UDA coordinators are the ones that should be credited for delivering 44 per cent of the Mombasa votes to UDA in the 2022.
“The house is collapsing. We need an urgent meeting, Deputy President. Come meet our UDA coordinators and MCA aspirants who lost,” Abdillahi told DP Gachagua at Frere Town Primary School on Monday.
On Thursday, Omar said some politicians are fond of criticising the President at every opportunity, yet they are in the same party just because they have not been appointed to government positions.
“You sit every day and issue statements criticising Ruto saying you brought him 41 per cent (of the Mombasa votes). You came as a candidate and we sponsored you. We did not force you to vie. You lost. Wait for your opportunity to come,” Omar said.
He said not all can be appointed to government and that is why he has been empowering some of those who lost elections but are willing to venture into business.
He said he wants to make Kenyans entrepreneurs so they can build an entrepreneur economy.
He said there were 486 people in charge of President Ruto’s campaign in Mombasa, both directly and indirectly.
Out of these, he has empowered over 290 through group business ventures, and has so far used over Sh30 million for this.
Omar said empowering an individual with Sh100,000 is different from empowering 15 people with Sh1.5 million, which is way better and more effective.
“Your colleagues who lost in the nominations have today established companies. You, who ate the money we gave you, are now coming back to us calling us names,” Omar said.
He said politics is not a business and leadership is no reason to want to be sponsored.
“You cannot have more problems than the electorate and want to be their leader. Will you solve your problems or those of the electorate? These are the people who if you give them Sh100,000, Sh70,000 will be eaten,” Omar said.
Youth Enterprise Fund chairperson Fatma Barayan said the lives of youth in Mombasa and Kenya at large must change for the better.
“That is why I will ensure all youth are in groups that will start businesses,” Barayan said.
She said the youth in the country have the time, energy, intelligence and will to grow themselves into better citizens.
“I am legit and I want to dignify the lives of my fellow youth. And because I am a lawyer I will personally help the youth with legal services pro bono,” she said.
“I know many of the coordinators are genuinely hurting because they volunteered services for UDA. I have sympathy for them,” he said.
However, he cautioned the aspirants against vying on a UDA ticket if they feel their candidature is a debt owed to them by the party.
Image: JOHN CHESOLI