Omar endorses Kenga to vie in Magarini by-election on UDA ticket

EALA MP Hassan Omar during the national dialogue Committee session at the Bomas of Kenya. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Coast region United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders have unanimously endorsed Stanley Kenga as the party's candidate in the Magarini parliamentary by-election following the nullification of Harrison Kombe's election as MP.

Led by UDA National Vice Chairman Hassan Omar, the leaders said since Kenga successfully petitioned against the election of Kombe he was best suited to contest for the seat.

"Since Kenga has proved that he was deprived of victory as the Magarini MP in the 2022 General Election the party will give him the necessary support to capture the seat from the ODM candidate," he said.

Omar who was addressing the party's grassroots leaders in Nyali said he will introduce Kenga to President William Ruto.

"I will mobilise everybody in the party and ensure Kenga captures this seat because the ODM candidate was rigged in despite having been defeated by our candidate," he said.

The East Africa Legislative Assembly MP told ODM leaders to brace for a grueling battle once the by-election date is officially declared.

"We are ready for the battle to ensure this seat which was won by our candidate but was denied victory goes to Kenga," he said.

He introduced the party's Mombasa branch line-up led by Ali Hamisi Kitaka ahead of the UDA grassroots election in Mombasa.

Omar urged party's supporters to elect the leaders.

Nyali MP Mohamed Ali who is believed to have his own lineup of leaders skipped the meeting.

A section of leaders lashed out at Ali over claims that he was a lone ranger and asked him to join Omar in uniting the party in the region.

Omar told the party supporters that the Kenya Kwanza government was on the right track in reviving the economy.

"We have put measures in place to ensure the cost of living and other problems are addressed," he said.