Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has reportedly taken leave from the National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential campaigns to focus on his re-election bid.
Sources close to the Governor explained that Joho was suspending his participation in presidential campaigns to neutralise his opponents who were strongly challenging his development record.
On Wednesday, the Governor's office announced that the Deputy Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader would go for Umra (pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia) and that he would suspend his campaign, but steered clear of claims that he had suspended participation in NASA's presidential entourage.
Earlier this month, Joho declared that he would put all his energies on campaigning for NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga while Mvita Legislator Abdulswamad Nassir, Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni), and Badi Twalib of Jomvu would lead the Governor's campaigns in Mombasa.
The plan has, however, reportedly failed as the legislators are also facing stiff competition from Wiper and Jubilee candidates in their Constituencies.
Joho's move comes even as his competitors Suleiman Shahbal of Jubilee and Senator Hassan Omar of the Wiper Democratic Movement have intensified house-to-house campaigns targeting Majengo, Mvita, Kisauni, and Nyali, which are all perceived as Joho's political strongholds.
Shahbal and Omar separately dismissed Joho’s efforts to launch and commission new projects terming them as "too little too late". They urged Mombasa residents to vote him out on August 8 as he(Joho) lacked a development track record.
Governor Joho while addressing residents in Nyali, however, dismissed his critics stating that his team had done a lot for the people of Mombasa and assured the residents that his administration was keen to improve accessibility to markets and essential services.
Joho will face off with Mr Shahbal and Senator Omar in the August elections.
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