- However, On Sunday, EALA MP Hassan Omar said leadership comes with a lot of responsibilities and stones in equal measure.
- He said he is not aware that Miraj is being sidelined in anything.
Image: BRIAN OTIENO
Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi now says that she will fight for her space within the United Democratic Alliance party in Mombasa.
Speaking to the Star, Miraj said she feels ignored, sidelined and disrespected by UDA honchos in Mombasa.
She said it is time she is given her deserved space at the party.
“I attend UDA events not because the leaders there like me but because I respect them and I respect the party,” the senator said.
Miraj said supremacy battles threaten the party’s unity and the gains made in the ODM-dominated Mombasa county.
“How can a delegates meeting be called and they divide delegates slots between themselves without involving me as a senator?” Miraj posed.
She said delegates cards were issued biasedly against her for the June 24, UDA delegates conference that was aborted after supporters clashed.
The senator said she was only given one card out of the 800 that were supposed to be issued to her.
“I feel confused in between. I am also a leader and I don’t know what is going on,” she said.
Miraj said she has been pushed out of the leadership echelons even when President William Ruto or his deputy Rigathi Gachagua visit the county.
However, On Sunday, EALA MP Hassan Omar said leadership comes with a lot of responsibilities and stones in equal measure.
He said he is not aware that Miraj is being sidelined in anything.
“I don’t know what her expectations are. No one is being sidelined. You know many times people have high expectations and when they are not met they become disappointed,” Omar said on the phone.
Omar said he has been inviting her to all of the UDA events in Mombasa and outside Mombasa and she has been attending them.
The EALA MP said he was given some delegates cards to distribute to party members just like any other leader was given.
“I distributed the cards in the manner I know best. I didn’t know I had any obligation to give Miraj some cards. You know sometimes you have to be fair to others too,” Omar said.
Presidential adviser Karisa Nzai said he has no candidates in Mombasa because he is above that level of politics.
“They are all my candidates. I don’t have any preferred candidates,” he said.
“You know how I operate. I build the party quietly. That is why you see my name is being heard even in Magarini.”