ODM leader Raila Odinga and his deputy Hassan Joho at a past event. [Photo/ nairobinews.nation.co.ke]
It’s no secret that ODM is the most popular party in Mombasa and the Coast region in general if the results of the past two general elections are anything to go by.
In Mombasa, during the 2013 general election, save for three elective seats, ODM swept the remaining seats.In summary, the Raila Odinga-led party clinched all the MCA positions, four out of six MP seats, Women Rep and governor positions.Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper won the Nyali and Jomvu parliamentary seats and the senatorial position.However, ODM’s acid test is in 2017 as other parties seem to be gaining ground in the county where the Orange party enjoys fanatical following.Just like in 2013, ODM is at risk of surrendering two parliamentary seats with Nyali and Likoni constituencies becoming increasingly contested.Mishi Mboko is ODM’s candidate for Likoni. However, she’s facing an uphill task dislodging incumbent Masoud Mwahima of Jubilee.Mwahima has reigned politically in the constituency for the past one decade and decamping to Jubilee has not weakened him politically as many had expected.Elsewhere, in Nyali, independent candidate Mohamed Ali is becoming ODM’s nightmare as he continues gaining ground.The situation is not any different with other positions like the MCA seats as other parties plot to cut ODM into size.