President Uhuru Kenyatta with Governor Hassan Joho during one of his visits to Mombasa. Photo/ PSCU
Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar has told President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party to prepare for a bruising battle for political seats in Mombasa during the August election.Omar said there is nothing tangible the Jubilee administration has done in Coast region to warrant residents vote for it.He said a larger share of the efforts Mr Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto have invested in the region were negative and repulsive."Jubilee stands a negligible chance of making any meaningful impact on Mombasa’s politics," he said on Thursday in a statement."The battle for the heart and soul of Mombasa is therefore an in-house affair of the National Super Alliance (NASA)."President Uhuru since his election has made several tours in the region that overwhelmingly voted for ODM party leader Raila Odinga during the 2013 general election with the objective of winning voter support.His attempts have, however, been thwarted by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho who has constantly criticised his regime for neglecting the Coast region in development.Joho claims the Jubilee administration does not habour good intention for Coast residents who according to him, since independence, have been marginalised."The only impact Jubilee can have which has been manifested in the last couple of months is negative," Omar added."Jubilee’s obsession with Governor Hassan Joho has or is providing fodder to divert the conversation of the county and its politics from real hardcore developmental conversations to an emotive one."Although indicators point to Jubilee's slim chances of clinching seats during the August election, the party has lined up aspirants for various elective posts in Mombasa.Suleiman Shahbal, for instance, has been fronted by the party to vie for the seat of governor.The ruling party will also field candidates for the posts of MP, Senator, Women Representative as well as MCA.