Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo presented with certificate by IEBC [Photo/Baraka FM]
At a time when the ODM wave swept across Mombasa County during the August 8 elections, two lucky political debutantes survived the tide to win political seats against the expectations of many.
The two are Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo and his Nyali counterpart Mohamed Ali.
Four months later, Mbogo, who sent home Governor Hassan Joho’s key ally Rashid Bedzimba, is trying to prove that he is the constituency’s ‘Savior’ after all.
Mbogo, a wealthy business businessman, was campaigning on a platform for youth empowerment which he believes will help eradicate drug abuse among the youths-something that is very rampant in Kisauni.
The politician, himself a youth, is now trying to live to the expectations of his constituents.
And to him, improving education standards remains a top priority.
Through his foundation (which has been carrying out his programmes even before he joined politics) and Kisauni CDF, hundreds of youths and especially school-going children have benefited with those who had lost home going to college finding a glimmer of hope.
Just recently, he extended his programme to class eight pupils who scored over 400 marks and who are set to join secondary schools-where he has promised to give a full four-year scholarship.
Further, he has vowed to revamp the technical training institutes in Kisauni, Mombasa’s biggest and most populous constituency, in an effort to give the youths the necessary life skills to improve their employability.
For a politically notorious Kisauni constituency, where MPs don’t serve for more than one term, Mbogo may beat that record and possibly extend his reign beyond 2022. But to that, he must prove that he’s the right man.
And the next five years will shape up his political trajectory.
Already his predecessor has challenged his election in court.
Though the fate of the petition remains unknown, there are claims that Bedzimba is planning to withdraw the case.
Should this happen, then the lawmaker will breathe a sigh of relief.