Jacob Elkana distributing food in Nyali / BRIAN
OTIENOWith incumbent Mohammed Ali seemingly going for the county's top seat, Nyali constituency has once again attracted a plethora of aspirants.
Nyali has traditionally not only attracted the highest number of hopefuls in general elections but also the highest number of greenhorns who venture into politics for the first time.
This is because it is the newest constituency in Mombasa, having been carved out of the larger Kisauni in 2013.
It is also considered the most relatively cosmopolitan constituency with the second highest number of registered voters at 124,253 as at the 2022 general elections. Only Kisauni had a higher number, with 135,276.
The latest entrant is former Star journalist Jacob Elkana.
With his entry into the race, Nyali has so far attracted nine hopefuls, as the 2027 contest shapes up to be a battle between upcoming youthful leaders and seasoned participants.
These include Kadzandani MCA Fatma Kushe, businessman Abdikadir Dekow, political strategist Abdulswamad Ali and former Mkomani MCA hopeful Gladys Chepkorir.
Others are perennial candidate Said ‘Saido’ Abdalla, former political advisor in the office of the Prime Minister, Maj (rtd) Idris Abdirahman, charity champion Alfayo Nelson of the Alfayo Nelson Foundation and businessman Crispus Waithaka.
The seat was first won by Wiper Party’s Hezron Awiti in 2013 in a contest that attracted 15 candidates before he was ousted by the incumbent, Ali, who vied as an independent candidate in 2017, before retaining it on a UDA ticket in 2022. In 2022, it attracted eight candidates.
Elkana, a photojournalist specialised in crime reporting, has held meetings with Nyali residents and distributed foodstuffs and other materials to the needy, in what is widely seen as his strategy to hit the ground running.
The former director of communication of Nairobi county during governor Mike Sonko’s tenure is viewed as a break from the traditional aspirants, who bring in business knowledge.
Elkana served under caretaker governor Benson Mutura following Sonko’s impeachment, then during Nairobi’s third governor Ann Kananu and the fourth Johnson Sakaja, before exiting the scene for greener pastures.
With a master’s degree in criminology and interests in the security sector, the hopeful brings a wealth of knowledge in tackling crime.
Nyali is one of the subcounties that hosts many of Mombasa’s 73 gangs as reported by security apparatus.
While most of the hopefuls are targeting the ODM, UDA and DCP’s party tickets in the constituency that has unpredictable voting patterns, Elkana will be part of the new entrants, including Dekow and Alfayo, as they plot to rise against the difficult political terrain.
Sources surrounding Elkana said he is banking on an ideological change, his relative political inexperience notwithstanding.
“We are dealing with an enlightened voting base that is yearning for change and this is part of the reason he is getting into the ring to be part of the change drive,” a close ally said.
Elkana is a staunch believer in youth entrepreneurship, gender equality, proper medical care and access to quality education, the ally added.
