Jomvu MP Badi Twalib at a past function. He is facing an uphill task to defend his seat amid competition from Jomvu Kuu MCA Karisa Nzai. [Photo/ kenyanewsagency.go.ke]
Jomvu MP Badi Twalib passed first hurdle in his bid to defend his seat when he clinched the ODM party ticket after a fierce contest with Dan Aloo during the party primaries.
However, his ambitious political journey has just started as he will face a formidable opponent during the August polls, Karisa Nzai.After fallout with ODM leadership, former Minority leader in the Mombasa County Assembly and Jomvu Kuu MCA Karisa Nzai jumped ship and joined Jubilee Party where he successfully secured a ticket to run against Twalib, Joho’s new-found ally.Twalib was elected on a Wiper ticket in 2013 before switching allegiance to ODM in March. The party’s popularity in the county gives him a precious head start in the race for the seat.Traditionally perceived an ODM stronghold, Jomvu constituency which was hived off from Changamwe, is a constituency to watch in the 2017 elections as the Jubilee candidate is keen to rewrite the script.Whereas the incumbent has a good track record, his critics say he has been ‘missing in action’ when it comes to solving perennial land issues in the area; a narrative which Nzai is now riding on to win the hearts of the voters.With both candidates being from the Mijikenda community, the contest will boil down to who has the convincing power to lure the swing votes especially from the members of the Kamba community who form the second largest voting population in the constituency.