Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba at a past event. The MP will be defending his seat on an ODM ticket. Photo/ nation.co.ke
Kisauni Constituency is at the heart of Mombasa politics. As the August polls beckon, the race for the seat that was once held by the late Karisa Maitha, is expected to be one of the most hotly contested positions in the county.In what may be an all-NASA contest, the incumbent Rashid Bedzimba, an ODM member who is seen as Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho's protege, is a front runner for the seat.Popular businessman Ali Mbogo has also thrown his hat into the ring with recent reports indicating that he might have made a U-turn and is considering rejoining ODM. Mbogo is expected to be Bedzimba's headache.On the other side, there is Fahad Kassim, a close ally to outgoing Nyali MP Hezron Awiti who is eying the governor seat.Bedzimba who is said to be banking on Joho's clout in county politics to springboard his political ambitions termed his opponents as "mere gazelles who will flee into the forests once the lion roars".However, backed by a huge financial muscle, Mbogo has launched numerous development projects in the constituency and has won the hearts of many residents.With Joho keen not to antagonize his political base, reports indicate that he is not ready to interfere with the constituency, which has the highest voting population in the county as he bids for a second term in office.