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Cracks emerge between Governor Nassir, Khatri

The political tug of war between the two has reportedly split the assembly

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by ONYANGO OCHEING’

Columnists04 March 2024 - 08:54
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In Summary


  • Speaker Aharub has not declared his stance on the 2027 polls, but political analysts say he might be planning to unseat Governor Nassir.
  • Aharub denied having fallen out with the governor, saying that if that was the case
Jomvu MP Badi Twalib, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and speaker Aharub Khatri alias Aroro in Mikindani on Monday, October 2, 2023.

Political differences between Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and Mombasa county assembly speaker Aharub Khatri played out as the two shared a podium at the weekend.

A united front previously portrayed by the two leaders has faded in recent months, amid reports of a potential contest between them in the 2027 general election.

Speaker Aharub has not declared his stance on the 2027 polls, but political analysts say he might be planning to unseat Governor Nassir.

The political tug of war between the two has reportedly split the assembly, with ward representatives divided into two camps.

The differences were evident on Saturday afternoon when the governor distributed funds to schools under the county’s “Leave No Child Behind” bursary programme.

It started when Shanzu MCA Allan Katana, who is allied to Nassir, criticised unnamed people close to the governor for allegedly trying to suffocate the county chief politically.

“There are people here in Mombasa whom I am looking at keenly. Our governor is doing a good job for Mombasa people, but there are hypocrites flanking him,” Katana said in Kiswahili.

“I plead with you Mombasa people; it is difficult to get good leaders like Nassir. We must protect him so that he continues delivering development to our people.”

The speaker, who was ushering the MCAs present at the function to speak, dared Katana to name the hypocrites.

“My bro here [Katana] was recently given the name Yusufu [Joseph], and we know Joseph is a man who always speaks the truth,” Aharub said.

“Here in Mombasa we don’t like hypocrisy, since you have said there are hypocrites here, why don’t you name them?”

Katana said, “Only the guilty are suspicious.”

Speaker Aharub chided Katana for calling his colleagues hypocrites but failing to substantiate his claim.

“We will not accept that, and as your speaker I humbly appeal to you to come here and apologise to the people of Mombasa,” Aharub said.

Katana responded, “I apologise for telling the truth.”

The speaker vowed to settle the matter with Katana in the assembly.

“We have tried to advise you as elders to stop your actions but you have refused, we shall meet in the assembly,” he said.

Aharub denied having fallen out with the governor, saying that if that was the case, then the assembly would not have approved most of the development projects initiated by the county government.

When Governor Nassir rose to speak, he warned leaders against using podiums to insult others but to focus on working for the people.

“I cannot run this county alone, I need everyone in the executive and the assembly. We have bigger wars in front of us, and we are the last defence of our people. If we even try to show we have any difference, we have betrayed our people and those who voted for us,” Nassir said.

The governor denied running a one-man show, saying he had no monopoly of ideas to run the county. He consults the assembly and its leadership and all of Mombasa’s elected leaders where need be, he said.

“I have no difference with any leader here. If there is anyone who wronged me, I forgive them. And if there is anyone who feels I wronged them, then I ask them to forgive me. We have to put any differences aside because we cannot achieve anything if we are divided,” Nassir said.

Concerning 2027 elections, the governor said that the focus now should be on serving wananchi as no one has a guarantee from God that they will see the year.

“I work for today, not tomorrow. Those using podiums to insult us, I want to tell them we will not respond to them, ours is to work. For those insulting us, please remember to also mention what we have achieved,” he said.

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