Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar with Nyali MP Hezron Awiti at a past event. Photo/ the-star.co.ke
The rivalry pitting Wiper Party's Senator Hassan Omar and Nyali MP Hezron Awiti in their bid to fly the party flag in the Mombasa governor race is threatening to split the party into two factions and cripple their effort to wrestle the seat from the incumbent, Governor Hassan Joho.
Both Awiti and Omar are key members in the Kalonzo Musyoka-led party. However, the tug of war between them that has played out of late is an indicator that all is not well within the party.In a voter listing mobilisation drive last weekend in Mombasa, an ego match between the two played out in front of Kalonzo Musyoka with Awiti declaring that he is the right candidate to challenge Joho.However, Omar who has always portrayed himself as a 'gentleman' of Mombasa politics, told off the Nyali MP.Omar, who is the party’s secretary general, said Mombasa needs to be run by a diligent and professional person, adding that he believes he possess those qualities.Recently, the Jubilee camp which has exuded confidence in unseating Joho endorsed businessman Suleiman Shahbal to fly the party flag with former Kisauni MP Ananiah Mwaboza as his running mate.