Nyali MP Mohammed Ali has for the first time hinted he will run for Mombasa governor after years of political moves that suggested his interest.
Ali, who has been recovering in silence from a knee injury he suffered in December, emerged on Saturday with a politically loaded statement.
Issuing Sh17 million bursaries at Khadija Primary School, he said the time has come for politicians in Mombasa to be taught how to do development politics.
“Nyali gets Sh136 million annually. It is that money that builds schools, roads, police stations, pays bursaries, buys school buses, among many miracles you see in Nyali,” he said.
“And there is someone who has sat on Sh13 billion but does nothing with it. His is to tell us how his parents have brought him up.
“We will come for that Sh13 billion and we will spread it across Mombasa county to make sure that each and every person gets a share,” Ali said.
The Nyali MP tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while representing Kenya in football at the EAC inter-parliamentary games in Mombasa.
He will be sidelined for at least nine months and has already undergone two surgeries and is waiting for a third in six months’ time.
Ali’s statement comes amid rising political temperatures in Mombasa.
Politicians have come out guns blazing as they seek early leads in the 2027 political races.
Governor Abdulswamad Nassir warned his opponents he will not be easy to beat Speaking at Mjambere Primary School on Saturday, he said he is not intimidated by any politician in Mombasa as he has been in the game for a long.
He shared a podium at the event with his political nemesis Mombasa speaker Aharub Khatri.
Last Thursday, the governor warned his political opponents his silence should not be taken for weakness.
Issuing contract letters for ECDE teachers at Concordia Primary School, he counted his blessings.
“I was blessed to be MP for two terms. I was blessed to be governor. I will be blessed to be governor again and I will be blessed to be more than a governor in future,” he said.
Nassir said his style of politics is not to engage his political rivals in public spats like other politicians do.
“In fact, when a leader is silent, he is stronger than the rest because he takes in a lot of trash from his opponents,” he said. “It means they are resilient and persevering. Hate is easy but it takes a lot of strength to persevere and be restrained.”
Speaker Khatri, popularly referred to as Aroro, on Saturday said he will show people dust if that is what it takes to ensure Mombasa residents get the services they deserve.
His food drives across the county have increased speculation he is preparing for a stab at the governor seat in 2027 despite his denials.
