Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar (right) who is vying for the county’s governorship, when he unveiled his running mate, Ms Linda Shuma (left) at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort on Monday. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
Mombasa governor hopeful Suleiman Shahbal has dismissed Senator Hassan Omar’s running mate pick, saying the pair has no chance of clinching the county’s top seat.
Speaking on Monday shortly after Omar named Linda Shuma as his running mate, Shahbal said Omar was unfit to hold the office, as he is politically inexperienced.He claimed that Omar copied him by picking a running mate from the Mijikenda community. Shahbal’s running mate Ananiah Mwaboza hails from the Mijikenda community.“Omar could have become the most respected governor had he waited until 2022, but his hurry to become the next Mombasa county boss is a waste of time and energy,” said Shahbal.The Jubilee governor aspirant argued that Omar cannot make any economic changes in the county if elected, since he has never witnessed the real situation on the ground.“We only see him on television but he has never visited areas like Mwakirunge or Nguu tatu to see how people are suffering from poor leadership,” said Shahbal.Shahbal argued that Omar only picked Linda as his running mate in a bid to woo the Mijikenda community, adding that the move will not bear fruit as residents will not vote for him.“If you cannot crisscross all the thirty wards in the county and pitch your development agenda to the locals, then you are doomed,” said Shahbal.He said Omar lacks an agenda for the people and urged residents to reject him, adding that the Senator has done nothing to prove he can lead the county.“We still ask ourselves more questions about Omar’s leadership since he is more a Nairobian than a Coastal resident. He does not deserve any vote from Mombasa residents,” he added.Shahbal appealed to residents to rally behind him arguing he is the only aspirant who can bring change to the county.