Mombasa County Assembly Speaker Aharub Khatri has in the recent past teared apart his boss Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir over “failed” development agenda.
Mr Khatri has been lamenting on the health and development sectors of the county stating that Mombasa county health sector was falling apart in the eye of governor Nassir.
The two who recently shared the same podium in Mjambere Ward, Kisauni Sub county teared each other apart at the same podium while addressing various critical issues within Mombasa county.
According to Mr Khatri, Mombasa county is lagging behind in development aspect as residents complain every day over poor health services, drainage systems, drastic water scarcity, crumbling economic empowerment initiatives among other issues.
The Speaker also appealed to the Mombasa County Assembly Members to discharge their mandates without any fear or favour so that they accelerate the county development agenda.
“To our MCA’s how can you climb a podium and beg the governor to implement projects within your Ward while you have all the powers to deliberate on the county budget and implement various development projects you need at the very grassroots level,” stated Khatri.
Leadership
According to Mr Khatri, Mombasa needs vibrant dedicated leadership—that will foreground the needs of locals and investors.
“Our largest public health facility the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital has become more expensive that the private health facilities we have in the county. How do we expect our people to afford such exorbitant medical expenses?” posed the Mombasa County Assembly speaker.
He further thrashed those who are focusing on the 2027 general election and who have completely forgotten their roles and mandates to their electorates.
“Some people here are singing about 10 years without a break. At what time will you serve locals if you are ever campaigning and investing all your energy on the next general election? If you fail to fulfil your development agenda and promises to your people they will not back you,” he said.
When the going gets tough…
His sentiments were seen directly attacking his boss Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir who has since bashed his critics urging them to carry on with their criticism as he ventures into serving Mombasa residents.
Recently during Eid-Ul-Adha celebrations, Khatri urged Mombasa residents to remain focused and elect leaders who are development-oriented and not all round political campaigners.
“A you not missing the former Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho’s leadership? What is it that went wrong until we are here lamenting on poor development record in the current regime? As Mombasa residents you need to stay calm and put your brains into work so that we do not repeat the same mistakes,” he told the chanting crowd.
Khatri who is eying the Mombasa Gubernatorial seat in the 2027 general polls is appealing to Mombasa residents to only back visionary leaders who are ready and dedicated to serve them better.
He cautioned locals against politicians who will only appear in public some few months to elections to woo them with monies and other enticements, further stating that leaders should invest on people right now and not few months to elections.
The Mombasa Gubernatorial seat has at the moment attracted former Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo, the current UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan, Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and the current Mombasa County Assembly Speaker Aharub Khatri, all who wants to topple the incumbent, Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir.
