The Somali Community in Mombasa has asked National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale to keep off the county's political affairs as the next general election draws closer.
Speaking during an interview with The Star, the community's chairman Abdulrahman Yusuf said Duale has no right to dictate the candidate they should back during the August polls.
“The community is focused on trying to unite the 10 sub-clans but he is busy interfering. Some of the people he prefers will actually not get the community’s votes,” said Yusuf, as quoted by the daily.
Yusuf said the community is well informed when it comes to political matters adding that they have a right to decide whom to vote for.
The group further asked Duale to desist from attacking Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho over petty issues including his academic qualifications.
The chair added that he intends to hold talks with Changamwe parliamentary seat aspirant Abdi Daib, to convince him to defect from Jubilee to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
He said the move is necessary as Daib will not get a ticket to contest for the seat if he does not leave Jubilee in good time.
“Joho, being the ODM deputy party leader and who lends us his ears, is in the right position to give Daib the nominated MP slot in the event he decamps from Jubilee,” he added.