Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir has broken ranks with his predecessor, Hassan Joho, to work with President William Ruto, a move he says will enhance growth and betterment of the coastal County.
Nassir said Mombasa is an important county that cannot remain stagnated by opposition politics as he also claimed that his sole purpose of Joining Kenya Kwanza is to better the lives of Mombasa residents and Kenya as a whole.
“I will work with the national government to ensure Mombasa people get desired services from the county and the overseer national government” Nassir said.
Nassir was elected on ODM ticket but he is always all over President Ruto who paid him a courtesy last week. He later followed the president in his meetings around Mombasa which is contrary to what a typical ODM governor does.
ODM politicians including governor Gladys Wanga gave President Ruto’s visit to Homa Bay County a wide berth. Wanga came under fierce criticism by the residents of the county for boycotting a prayer function that was attended by President Ruto.
The president attended a prayer service at Africa Inland Church in Homa Bay town where he conducted a funds drive a week after taking oath.
Wanga, her deputy Oyugi Magwanga and all elected leaders from Homa Bay kept off the President’s meeting to avoid upsetting Raila Odinga, the ODM owner.
But Nassir has been lured by Nyali MP Hon. Mohamed Ali who urged him to shun opposition politics and work with the government. Ali was elected on UDA ticket and is a die hard supporter of President Ruto who doubles as UDA Party leader.
Ali said Nassir is not like his predecessor Joho who was full of anger towards Mombasa politicians because he is uniting the entire political leadership of the county.
“I want to congratulate you and your deputy Francis Thoya, for bringing Mombasa leaders together. We are now being invited to your functions. I urge you to take a step further, and closely work with the national government for the betterment of Mombasa residents. Don’t fear anything. You are an elected leader. I will personally support you,” said Ali.
Nassir pledged to be his own man during the campaigns when people thought that voting him was as good as extending Joho’s term.
He was expected to under the control of Joho; the former flashy governor who partied across the globe but registered a dismal performance for the ten years he ruled Mombasa.
Joho is the point man of Opposition leader Raila Odinga in the Coast region and a fierce Ruto critic. He used to rant around that Ruto is a thief who would never be elected president, one thing that has forced him to take a low profile in Dubai since Ruto became the president.
Nassir is Joining Ruto with a bunch of Mombasa ODM MPs including Badi Twalib (Jomvu) and Odinga sycophant Mishi Mboko (Likoni) who is silently gravitating towards the president.
Mombasa and the entire Coast region has experienced little growth for the decades they have been under influence of Raila Odinga.
The president began his move to neutralize Odinga influence at the Coast when he registered 40 per cent of the region’s votesin the last general elections.
He went on to rewarded the region with two CS positions through Aisha Jumwa (Public Service) and Salim Mvurya, and also ensured that former Kilifi governor, Amason Kingi, became the Senate Speaker.
Kilifi Governor Gideon Munga’ro who was elected in ODM ticket also attended the president’s meeting in Kilifi. Ruto was in the county to commission 40 kilometre 40km Mtwapa-Kilifi Road along the Mombasa-Malindi highway.
