Nyali Member of Parliament and Mombasa gubernatorial aspirant Mohamed Ali has been thrust into the spotlight after documents in our possession revealed that Somtrade Limited, a company linked to his close associates, owes the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) a staggering Sh43,590,157.47 in outstanding rental and cargo charges dating back to 2023.
According to exclusive documents, Somtrade Limited entered into an agreement with KPA on 21st November 2023 under the validation of a lease in respect of Shade 2 on Title Number Mombasa/Block/1/492. The company lists Mohamed Ibrahim Abdi, the former Mombasa County Executive Committee Member for Trade during former Governor Hassan Joho’s second term, as a director.
Also listed among the directors is Naeem Shafiq Mohamed, a nominated MCA in the Mombasa County Assembly under UDA, a close confidant, right-hand man, and personal assistant to Nyali MP Mohamed Ali.
Investigations by our desk have established that Mohamed Ali’s close associate, Naeem Shafiq Mohamed, is the largest shareholder in the company with 30 shares.
He is followed by Ibrahim Bagajo Karayu and Mohamed Ibrahim Abdi, who each hold 25 shares, while Suleiman Ibrahim Surrow owns 20 shares. Company records reviewed during our investigations indicate that all four shareholders are of Somali origin.
Documents handed to a lobby group indicate that KPA, through a letter dated 10th June 2026, issued Somtrade Limited with a demand notice over a long-outstanding debt.
The notice references Rental Lease Account No. 411200 with arrears of Sh25,142,410.00 and Cargo Account No. 103011 with arrears of Sh18,447,747.47, bringing the total amount owed to Sh43,590,157.47.
Investigations by our desk have established that Mohamed Ali’s close associate, Naeem Shafiq Mohamed, is the largest shareholder in the company with 30 shares. He is followed by Ibrahim Bagajo Karayu and Mohamed Ibrahim Abdi, who each hold 25 shares, while Suleiman Ibrahim Surrow owns 20 shares.
Company records reviewed by our investigations indicate that all four shareholders are of Somali origin.
Records further indicate that Somtrade Limited had requested KPA to approve a payment plan for the debt.
However, the request was reportedly declined by the authority’s management.
“This has reference to your letters dated 9th March 2026 (Cargo A/C) and 4th May 2026 (Rental/Lease A/C), copies attached, proposing payment plans for the long outstanding debts. As you are aware, Kenya Ports Authority operates on a cash basis; there are no credit facilities for the services offered by KPA. This therefore means that the above debts are in contradiction to policy in addition to falling under the category of uncollectable debts due to the prolonged period,” the letter states.
According to the lobby group, the company was subsequently given seven days to clear the outstanding amount or face legal action.
A senior member of the lobby group, who sought anonymity, accused Mohamed Ali of seeking what she termed as “cheap publicity” while ignoring the support he had allegedly received in the past.
“Mohamed Ali is too mouthy. During the good days of the Ruto-Gachagua friendship, he was bulldozing everyone, including procurement officers and finance staff. He has been given so many favors. The reason he has opted to start these wars is one he will not win,” she claimed.
The group further alleges that videos and photographs in their possession, taken several years ago, show Mohamed Ali confronting procurement officers and issuing what they describe as stiff instructions.
We have confirmed the Names and signatures of the directors of Somtrade LTD
In a separate development, documents show that Somtrade Limited formally wrote to KPA seeking additional time to settle the debt. The letter was signed by Mohamed Ibrahim Abdi in his capacity as a director.
“With the above plan we will clear all pending charges as per the current situation. Therefore, we respectfully request a mercy period of two months to settle the remaining balance in five installments. We are confident that with your understanding and cooperation, we will fulfill our financial obligations within this time frame,” Mohamed Ibrahim Abdi wrote.
According to the lease agreement, the company was granted authority to operate the facility for a period of five years and three months. An amendment to the lease changed the commencement date from 1st June 2023 to 1st June 2024 while maintaining the duration of the agreement.
“By deletion of the words ‘Five (5) years and Three (3) months with effect from the 1st day of June 2023’ describing the term of the Lease on page 3 of the Lease Document and substitution therefor with the words ‘Five (5) years and Three (3) months with effect from the 1st day of June 2024,” part of the agreement reads.
The revelations are likely to intensify political debate in Mombasa as questions emerge over the company’s operations, the massive debt owed to KPA, and the links between the firm’s directors and prominent political figures in the county.