Two photos of Nyali MP Mohammed Ali consulting with
former DP Rigathi Gachagua and with former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka at
their respective houses / BRIAN OTIENO
UDA secretary general Hassan Omar at the UDA
Hustler Centre in Nyali, Mombasa on Wednesday / BRIAN OTIENO
UDA secretary general Hassan Omar has slammed the opposition for using
the divide and rule tactic to gain relevance.
He said this is
despite President William Ruto championing the ‘unite and rule’ method to bring
peace.
Omar said said the
opposition method was used by colonialists and has no place in Kenyan politics
today.
He spoke during a
UDA delegates meeting at the UDA Hustler Centre in Nyali constituency.
Omar blasted
former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for trying to divide Kenyans, saying
he does not deserve to be a leader. “Wamunyoro came with shares and what have
you. Today, even the Gen Zs from Mt Kenya know Wamunyoro is not a leader. They
know their lives are where other Kenyans stand,” he said.
“If you don’t
unite with Kenyans this time, you will stay in the cold for a long time.”
Omar said he was
one of the emissaries sent to speak with ODM leader Raila Odinga over
partnership with UDA.
He said all the
time, Raila always wanted to lead a country that is united, not a country of
the dead where people die every time because of divisive politics.
“That is why he
agreed to shake hands with former President Mwai Kibaki and now he has agreed
to work with Ruto to bring peace, cohesion and equality,” the secretary general
said.
“Who will you lead
if the country is burning?”
Omar accused some
politicians of wanting to destroy the country by asking youths to damage roads
and other economic infrastructure.
The opposition, he
said, is made up of veteran politicians who are losing their ways.
Wiper leader
Kalonzo Musyoka is leading the Kamba community in the wrong direction, Omar
said.
“Who thought
Kalonzo would lead a community into oblivion?” he asked.
Omar urged Kalonzo
to join UDA and offered his secretary general position to him. “It is never about positions. We will get
ours. No one will remove us from the government. It will not be easy,” he said.
Former DP Gachagua
has been vocal against President Ruto’s leadership ever since he was impeached.
Gachagua is now
working to form a strong and united opposition to oust Ruto in 2027.
His machinations
has seen him rope in Nyali MP Mohammed Ali as one of his strongest lieutenants
in Mombasa.
Omar, who is eying
the Mombasa governor seat, just as Ali, did not spare his fellow UDA party
member.
“I told you two
years ago, that man has joined Wamunyoro [Gachagua],” he said.
This was after Ali
posted two photos of himself consulting with Gachagua and then with Kalonzo
five days ago.
Ali has been
nursing a knee injury he got in December last year during the 14th edition of
the East Africa Community Inter-Parliamentary games in Mombasa.
“Just an injury
and you would think he is bereaved. How many times do we get injured, being
kicked in the legs, but we still stand like Maradona. Being injured in the knee
does not prevent you from working for the people,” Omar said.
The MP tore his
anterior cruciate ligaments, an injury that takes about nine to 12 months to
heal, for professional footballers.
Ali was injured
while representing Kenya in a football match against Burundi.
“If you hurt your
leg, can’t you serve people? How many people live with disability but still
work for people?” he asked, describing Ali as a man of theatrics.
In response, Ali
said Omar lacks basic values of humanity.
“He who mocks and gloats over the sickness of
others lacks the very basic values of humanity including compassion and
kindness,” he said.
The MP said it is
especially disheartening that Omar’s background is that of human rights
activism.
“How ironic that
this fellow once championed human rights on national and international platforms,”
Ali said. “One must wonder whether he lost his ideals over time or he never
actually had them. What a hard fall from
grace,” Ali said.
