Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar during the launch of his manifesto this year. [Photo: Hassan Omar/twitter.com]
The scramble for the Mijikenda vote in Mombasa County has intensified following reports that Senator Hassan Omar has settled on a running mate from the community.
A source from the Senator's campaign team told the Star on Sunday that his running mate is a Mijikenda woman.
“It’s a lady by the name Linda Mariwa Shuma. That I can confirm,” said the source.
A statement from Omar's campaign secretariat said he will Monday officially unveil his deputy at an event to be held at the Sarova Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa.
The Senator is seeking to unseat Governor Hassan Joho in the forthcoming August 8 general election.Omar's competitors namely; Joho, Suleiman Shahbal and Hezron Awiti, have also settled on a deputy from the community.
Omar is seeking to get a share of the voting bloc which accounts for a majority of the voters in Mombasa county.
There were claims that showed Joho has fronted county secretary Francis Thoya as his running mate.
However, Joho, who is also expected to officially unveil his running mate this week, has cast his eyes on his Education minister Tendai Lewa and varsity don William Kingi as possible candidates too.
Jubilee Party's Shahbal has lawyer Annaniah Mwaboza as his running mate.
On his part, Awiti of Vibrant Democratic Party has settled on Hassan Mwatoa as his deputy.