ODM Mombasa county chairman Mohamed Hatimy remains in critical condition at Coast General Hospital's intensive care unit following an alleged poisoning incident linked to political rivalries within the party.
Health officials confirmed Hatimy was admitted in severe distress with respiratory failure, though no official cause of illness has been disclosed. Family members have accused Mombasa Assembly Speaker Aharub Ibrahim Khatri of orchestrating the attack, citing longstanding tensions between the two figures.
The political conflict centers on competing ambitions for county leadership. Khatri, who has aligned with Deputy President William Ruto, faces accusations from Hatimy of undermining Governor Ali Hassan Joho's administration. This rivalry has intensified as both men position themselves for potential gubernatorial bids in 2022.
Recent assembly disputes reached a boiling point when Khatri allegedly coordinated efforts to remove several county executives, including Hatimy, from their posts. The move coincided with growing factionalism within the ODM party, which controls Mombasa's political landscape.
Hospital sources indicated Hatimy is receiving antidote treatment for unspecified toxic exposure. The case has drawn attention to the volatile nature of local politics, with observers warning of escalating violence in the run-up to the 2022 elections.
