Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho faces a challenge in his re-election bid after his rival, Nyali MP Hezron Awiti, received an endorsement from the Mijikenda community, the largest voting bloc in Mombasa county.
The Mijikenda community, comprising 52 percent of registered voters in the county, will support Awiti in his challenge for the gubernatorial seat. Awiti met with community leaders at the home of late Cabinet Minister Karisa Maitha at Majaoni.
Awiti, who will contest the seat under the Wiper flag, signed a pact with Mijikenda spokesman Ibrahim Kai. According to the pact, Awiti agreed to serve as governor for one term only and to be deputized by a member from the Mijikenda community, who will then run for the seat after Awiti's term. The community also demanded that the leader of the majority in the county assembly should be given to a Mijikenda.
As quoted by Daily Nation, Ibrahim Kai outlined the conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding, including that "the first pillar... is that Awiti serves as governor for one term only. The second is that he must be deputised by a member from our community who will run for the seat after Awiti’s term."
Joho, a staunch supporter of opposition leader Raila Odinga, now faces increased pressure, including a stiff battle for the seat against Jubilee Party's Suleiman Shabal and Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar. Omar, who plans to vie for the seat under Wiper Kenya, is a vocal critic of the Mombasa governor.
The endorsement of Awiti adds complexity to the race, with analysts suggesting that the lack of a single candidate from the National Super Alliance (NASA) could cost them the gubernatorial seat in Mombasa.
The recovered account cited reporting by Tuko.
