- Albeit named in an acting capacity, Omar’s supporters filled the streets of Mombasa as they sang and danced to the news.
- However, the supporters now want the position given to him permanently, saying he fits the bill.
Image: BRIAN OTIENO
Mombasa town erupted into celebration on Friday evening after news of EALA MP Hassan Omar’s elevation to the powerful UDA secretary-general position.
Albeit named in an acting capacity, Omar’s supporters filled the streets of Mombasa as they sang and danced to the news.
However, the supporters now want the position given to him permanently, saying he fits the bill.
“The President and the UDA National Executive Council have made the best decision ever. They have seen the workmanship of our leader and deemed it right to give the position to him,” Mutungwa Wambua, one of Omar’s right-hand men in Mombasa, said.
Wambua, who is eying a similar position but at the Mombasa county level, said Omar will steer the party to greatness as he has the charisma and wisdom to navigate different situations.
The UDA NEC revoked former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala's appointment as acting Secretary General, despite a court order being issued on Thursday, stopping the NEC meeting.
The petition was filed by Malala at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal on Thursday.
The case will be mentioned on Tuesday, August 13.
Image: BRIAN OTIENO
Malala was appointed acting UDA secretary general in February 2023, replacing Veronica Maina who was nominated to the Senate.
The party has in the recent past experienced internal wars over the position.
A section of UDA members have been calling for Malala's ouster.
On Tuesday, lawyer Joe Khalende stormed the UDA party headquarters claiming to have taken over as SG.
Wambua said Omar has been tested for many years.
“He is an inclusive leader who is trusted by many and can steer the party to even further heights,” Wambua said.
“Now that Omar is the SG, all party programs will resume officially. Preparations for the grassroots elections will now resume and there will be discipline in the party.”
He called on UDA members to support Omar and
“Omar serves a population of over 300 million people in the East Africa Community. He will go down in history as the best-ever SG in Kenya. That we are sure of,” he said.
Maria Fernandes, a UDA member vying for the party’s persons with disability representative position in Mombasa county, said Omar will take care of the interests of all PWDs in Mombasa county.
Image: BRIAN OTIENO
“We thank the party for giving us the cream. Omar is the best choice. He is a wise and good leader,” Fernandes said.
Said Twaha, a UDA politician who is eying the Mvita MP seat, said Omar’s choice is a recognition of the leadership in Mombasa and in Mvita.
Omar was raised in Mvita’s Old Town area.
“We are behind you, Omar. Show them what Mombasa is made of,” he told the EALA MP.
Coast Development Authority director Kalinga Mgandi said now that Omar is the interim SG, Mombasa will have to be disciplined.
“We will discipline anyone who thinks they are so special and would want to go against the President’s directives. There are people here who think they are so strong that they cannot listen to the president when he calls for a ceasefire,” Kalinga said.
His sentiments were echoed by Wambua, who said Omar has now been elevated to a position that does not allow him to respond to attacks by some UDA members.
Image: BRIAN OTIENO
“Those who have a problem with Omar will have to deal with us first,” he said.
The UDA team in Mombasa has for a while been witnessing infighting as three camps fight for positions in the party.
The three camps have been led by Nyali MP Mohammed Ali, Omar and nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi.
In a separate event, UDA’s Mombasa religious affairs officer Sheikh Abu Qatada said Omar has the wisdom to steer the party out of wrangles and into political history.
The cleric said Mombasa has wise leaders and Omar’s elevation is testimony to the faith the party, led by President William Ruto, has in Mombasa.
“We are lucky that we are favoured by both Allah and the President. This faith in Mombasa will help the party dominate the county,” he said.
UDA delivered 44 per cent of the total votes in Mombasa during the 2022 general elections, signalling a shift in the political scene.
Prior, ODM had dominated the arena for decades.