Mombasa UDA Members Express Discomfort Over Omar’s dalliance with Joho
Disgruntled UDA members in Mombasa have expressed concern about the party’s deputy chairman Hassan Omar’s relationship with ODM’s Hassan Joho.
Omar has recently publicly supported Joho’s bid to become ODM party leader if incumbent Raila Odinga relocates to Addis Ababa to become African Union Commission chairperson.
The EALA MP has stated that political differences between him and Joho have never been personal, and that they are working together for the sake of Coast people.
According to political observers, the former Mombasa senator is forming a political network in order to win over locals, particularly young people who adore Joho; hence, winning over the former governor is critical to winning over the youth.
This has irritated some UDA members, notably those loyal to Nyali MP Mohammed Ali, who questioned Omar’s stance on Thursday, calling it “not helpful to the UDA party”.
The unhappy party members, led by Mombasa coordinator Samir Omar, denied that they support Joho’s ODM bid.
“At an Iftar dinner this week, he said UDA members have come together to support a rival party. That is not true. That is his personal opinion and personal move,” Samir told journalists.
He accused Omar of abandoning his leadership position and failing to unite UDA while backing a rival party.
“How can you work with a rival party yet the party that sponsored you and which you are a high-ranking official has problems, which you have not solved yet?” Samir posed.
Omar has advocated for coastal unity, stating that all regional leaders should work together to benefit residents.
He has extended olive branches to all regional leaders, regardless of party affiliation.
On Tuesday, he was among the visitors at Joho’s home in Nyali, where he invited leaders for an Iftar feast.
He also visited Gender CS Aisha Jumwa’s Iftar meal on Wednesday at her Nairobi home, which was attended by Coast leaders of all political affiliations.
On Thursday, Samir declared that the coastal unity that Omar advocates is ‘haram’. He claimed that the leaders’ selfish bid is intended to boost their own selfish interests rather than those of the people.
“We are not heading to any election any time soon. This unity is a selfish bid by the leaders to apportion themselves positions of power,” Samir said.
“What we want is development like it is happening in other regions. The government has come up with the idea of Special Economic Zones. We should make it work for residents instead of angling for business there.”
Mildred Odinga, a UDA coordinator in Mombasa, believes it is foolish for anyone to rush to build a neighbour’s house while their own is breaking apart.
He claimed Omar’s political manoeuvres are selfish and not in the best interests of the UDA party or its members.
“He is fighting for unity with people who have been in leadership for 10 years without any benefit to Mombasa residents. How can they be of benefit now that they are not in power?” Odinga posed.
She believes it is time for President William Ruto to view leaders for who they truly are, rather than the image they project.
Odinga stated that the UDA in Mombasa has three factions that should be united, but Omar is busy uniting opposition figures.
“He has lost his way. If he is a true leader, he should first unite people in his own house before uniting others from other houses,” she said.
Former Tononoka councillor Abdalla Miraj stated that Mombasa and Coast politicians own no shares in ODM and should reconsider their value to locals.
Miraj stated that the time has come for Coast leaders to wake up and fight for the people of Mombasa, rather than their own selfish interests.
According to Likoni lawmaker Hamisi Domoko, Omar’s political activities are nullifying the party members’ attempts to change Mombasa yellow and green from orange.
He stated that Mombasa is gradually changing from ODM to UDA, but Omar’s backing for Joho and ODM will undermine this effort.
“We fear that all our efforts will have gone to waste and we will start from scratch yet again,” he said.
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Mombasa UDA Members Express Discomfort Over Omar’s dalliance with Joho
