Two employees and key allies of Governor Hassan Joho have caused anxiety in the National Super Alliance (NASA) after declaring that they will vie for the Mombasa senatorial seat on the coalition’s ticket.
Trade Executive Hamisi Mwaguya and Youth Executive Mohammed Abbas have left the alliance at crossroads on who to back considering both are good friends of Joho.
Mr Mwaguya announced that he will be vying on an ODM ticket stating that incumbent Hassan Omar had failed Mombasa.
On the other hand, Mr Abbasa said that he will be in the race on a NASA ticket and maintained that he will not step down for anyone.
Sources privy to the matter have disclosed that the issue has put NASA officials on a tight spot on who to back.
Officials in NASA are said to have pleaded with Joho to ask one of his allies to step down for the other so that they can field one candidate.
It's not clear whether Mwaguya or Abbas will blink first and accept to drop out of the race with multiple sources indicating that the two are fierce rivals.
Whoever NASA settles on, one of them will face Joho’s deputy governor, Ms Hazel Katana, who was since defected to Jubilee.
Her candidature has already been dismissed by Mr Mwaguya stating, “Even though the race will be between ODM and Jubilee, Hazel Katana is a non-starter in politics and I, therefore, expect a smooth and easy win to the Senate.”
