On Thursday, Nyali MP Mohamed Ali survived again after the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court decision that declared him validly elected following an appeal by his August 8 poll rival Said Abdalla.
The ruling came as a blow to ODM party which had hoped that the Appellate Court would nullify the win and order for a fresh election which would have given the Raila Odinga-led outfit an opportunity to finally win the seat which it has failed to win since 2013.
But for Ali, the decision by the three-judge bench was a personal victory in his effort to establish himself as a formidable political force in the ODM-dominated County.
There is no doubt that the ruling will have a bearing on 2022 election considering the most recent political developments in the county that has seen Ali emerge as a key cog in the Deputy President William Ruto’s bid to woo the Coastal city into supporting his State House journey
Buoyed by his Court victory and with Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo on his side in declaring support for the DP, the two lawmakers who are not affiliated to ODM may be hard to contain especially if no clear plan is put on the ground.
Whatever happens, Joho and Raila’s next move on the political chessboard will no doubt shape up the battle for Mombasa where any lackluster approach will be their biggest political blunder in the face of a looming battle.
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