The race to replace Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali is gaining momentum with the battle ground already getting crowded.
The latest entry is Media practitioner Elkana Jacob who served as the official Director of Communications to former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko.
He is set to join seven other aspirants, who have already declared interest to represent the second biggest constituency in Mombasa County.
The incumbent Mohammed Ali, has declared interest to oust Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir in the 2027 elections.
Other candidates in the hotly contested Nyali Parliamentary seat include businessman Abdikadir Dekow, political strategist Abdulswamad Ali and former Mkomani MCA hopeful Gladys Chepkorir, all targeting the UDA ticket.
Raila Odinga’s ODM is expected to yet again fieldlong serving lieutenant Said ‘Saido’ Abdalla, who will battle for the party ticket with former political adviser in the office of the Prime Minister Maj (rtd) Idris Abdirahman and Kadzandani MCA Fatma Kushe. Alfayo Nelson has also declared his interest.
Most of the candidates are targeting the ODM, UDA and DCP’s party tickets in the constituency that has unpredictable voting patterns.
Against tides
Mr Elkana will be part of the new entrants, including Dekow and Alfayo as they plot to rise against the difficult political terrain.
While at Nairobi City County, he ended up serving former Speaker Benson Mutura who temporarily took over as the acting Governor following Sonko’s impeachment.
He also served Governor Ann Kananu who took over officially as the third Governor and then Governor Sakaja before going for greener pastures.
Once a journalist…
His practice as a journalist focused on crime and investigation reporting in the Coastal region where he gained public fame after unearthing drug syndicate at the Coast, among other serious investigative stories.
Together with Abdulswamad Ali, they are the two media practitioners eyeing the seat and will certainly be battling opponents they have previously covered or engaged in various capacities.
Abdulswamad for instance, has been working as a communication strategist for politician and investor Suleiman Shahbal and now Hassan Omar the UDA Secretary General, both being the East African Legislative Assembly Members.
The seat was first won by Wiper Party’s Hezron Awiti in 2013 in a contest that attracted 15 candidates before he was ousted by the incumbent in 2017.
The 2027 contest is shaping up to be a battle between upcoming and vibrant youthful leaders with seasoned participants.
Kadzandani MCA Fatma Kushe for instance has been active in politics since 2013 when she was nominated by ODM before getting elected for the first time in 2022.
She is also the second woman to show interest in the seat as the cosmopolitan constituency prepares for a new MP.
However, the tides seem to have changes with the 2027 Nyali political battle clearly indicating that the 2027 elections will be decided by ideology and not the period one has been in politics.
“We are dealing with an enlightened voting base that is yearning for change and this is part of the reason I am getting into the ring to be part of the drive and change,” a close ally said.
He is a staunch believer in youth entrepreneurship, gender equality, proper medical care and access to quality education to all people.
He joins a list of many other journalists who are eying political seats including Citizen TVs Lulu Hassan who has declared interest in the Mvita seat.
Another journalist Charles Mghenyi from Radio Africa Groups, The Star Newspaper had also shown interest in senatorial seat.
Mghenyi is The Star Newspaper Coast region Bureau chief, a position that was held by Maureen Mudi before she moved to Media Council of Kenya (MCK) as the National media regulatory body’s regional coordinator.
