Moha displays his certificate after being cleared by the IEBC. [Photo: Mohammed Ali/ facebook.com]
The stage is set for the battle of the titans following IEBC’s clearance of former KTN investigative journalist Mohammed Ali (Moha) to contest for the Nyali parliamentary seat.
Moha was cleared by IEBC on Wednesday as an independent candidate for the duel and will face off with his archrival Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s cousin, Said Abdallah.After IEBC presented him with the certificate, Ali, a staunch Muslim took time on social media to recite a prayer confident he will clinch victory and “liberate Nyali”.“Finally we have our certificate with us. The journey towards liberating Nyali starts. So God help me, lead me in this journey. You are the only one who knows the plans I have for Nyali people. You are the only one who candidly knows my intentions and why I am vying for this seat,” he posted on his official Facebook page.“Powerful people who have oppressed the poor year in year out have united against me, swore that they won't allow me take the Nyali seat but No one is more powerful than you God. To my Nyali people, my ideology is your ideology, what you have been denied is what my leadership will offer to you. I am coming into politics because of our kids. We are in this to restore dignity to the common.”Moha had looked forward to contest for the MP seat on an ODM ticket but was controversially defeated by Abdallah during ODM party primaries.He challenged the outcome of the nomination exercise by petitioning Orange House in Nairobi but his pleas fell on deaf ears.He accused Joho and a section of Mombasa County ODM officials of conniving to deny him victory during the nominations. Moha says he comes from a poor background, understands well the problems facing Nyali residents and is therefore better positioned to represent them in Parliament.“A vote for Mohammed Ali is a vote towards better education, better healthcare, improved infrastructure, increased job opportunities and improved security,” he said.