Differences between Mombasa governor candidates, Ali Hassan Joho of the ODM party and Senator Hassan Omar Hassan (of the Wiper Democratic Movement Kenya, then) escalated publicly shortly before the August 8, 2017 general elections.
The two National Super Alliance (Nasa) leaders differed before their party leaders and supporters, during a Nasa rally at Mama Ngina Drive, with each accusing one another of being the inappropriate candidate for the people of Mombasa.
(Omar has since decamped to join the Jubilee Party)
Trouble began when governor Joho who was seeking a second term, addressed the crowd, accusing Omar of being used by some of the critics of his government to bring him down.
He said Omar was only vying after being funded to do so but did not have the personal interest to be the governor.
"If leadership is about being sent to bring me down.. if politics is about opposing each other for selfish gains.." Joho said, referring to Omar, who was the Wiper secretary general.
Joho accused his opponent of criticising everything he does for personal reasons and further assured him that the people of Mombasa would vote for a Joho-government, amid cheers from the crowd.
When given the chance to address, Omar accused Joho of failing to contain the garbage menace in the coastal county saying he (Omar) was the answer to all the problems Mombasa people face.
This however did not go well with supporters of Joho, who started jeering and preventing Omar from addressing them.
"Even if you prevent me from speaking, I know the people of Mombasa want change. Garbage and corruption will be eliminated by my government," Omar continued, despite large noise from the crowd.
The then NASA chief campaigner, co-principal Musalia Mudavadi was forced to intervene and calm the situation, with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka saying: "We are competing because Nasa is a family. Do not fight because we are a family."
The event held on August 4, 2017, was the last Nasa campaign in Mombasa before the Tuesday elections.