Showdown looms as Hassan Omar eyes Hassan Joho's seat

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar Sunday declared he would vie for the county’s gubernatorial seat.

His announcement now sets the stage for what could turn out to be a titanic battle between the two leaders allied to the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).

The Wiper Party secretary general will now face off with Governor Hassan Joho, the ODM deputy party leader in one of CORD’s strongholds.

While many more leaders are expected to declare their candidature for the seat, it is the expected duel between Senator Omar and Governor Joho that has elicited political excitement.

Democratic right

Joho Sunday welcomed the senator’s declaration, saying it was his “democratic right”.

“This is not surprising because we know all senators want to be governors,” he added.

In what could turn out to be a crowded race for the seat, Nyali MP Hezron Awiti Bolo also launched his own bid, saying he was “not scared of Omar because he has no following in Mombasa.”

Omar said his Wiper party would challenge the Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) dominance in Mombasa by fielding candidates in all wards and parliamentary seats, including the Senate and gubernatorial seat.

Omar said Wiper was ready to contest primaries against ODM and other CORD parties, but would only agree on a consensus candidate if the primaries are free and fair.

The Mombasa senator made the announcement in Mombasa town Sunday, accompanied by Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.

Mutula Junior said Omar “has a right to seek election as the governor of Mombasa” and backed his bid.

Mr Awiti made his big declaration in Changamwe.

“I have the support of party officials who are with me here at the Akamba Handicrafts grounds,” he said.Ironically, the senator said Awiti, who was having his own meeting, was expected at his forum which also involved strategy meetings to boost voter registration in Coast.

The Nyali MP had announced his ambition for the governor’s seat earlier when he conducted what he described as “the official launch” of his gubernatorial bid.

Yes men

Omar’s declaration is more significant because it is the first time he has done so publicly, although he has increasingly become critical of Joho’s administration and the Mombasa county assembly.

Omar has described the assembly as a rubber stamp of the Joho administration and Sunday claimed that 90 per cent of members of the county assembly would not be elected in 2017 because of being “yes men”.

“Anybody who says the county government of Mombasa is doing well is a liar,” he said, adding that he would not allow himself to be arm-twisted into abandoning his new ambition.

Before the 2013 polls, Omar, Awiti and gubernatorial loser Suleiman Shahbal defected from ODM, claiming frustration by Joho’s allies. Mr Shahbal has since joined Jubilee and will now face Omar, a former ally.