Wiper clears Sonko to vie for Mombasa gubernatorial seat

By Joshua Cheloti Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has formally joined the race to be the next Mombasa Governor. Sonko was on Thursday cleared by Wiper Democratic Movement to vie for the seat. Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka handed the flamboyant politician a certificate of nomination to vie for the seat. While unveiling the former county boss as its candidate for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat, Kalonzo also revealed that the current Kisauni Member of Parliament Mbogo will be Sonko’s deputy. Mbogo had been in the race to succeed outgoing governor Ali Hassan Joho, but after meeting the former vice President, he shelved his ambitions. “It's @MikeSonko for Mombasa Gubernatorial seat with Kisauni MP Hon. Ali Mbogo as his deputy, @TheWiperParty PL @skmusyoka announced this evening at the SKM Command Centre,” Paloma Gatabaki, communications lead at the SKM Command Centre posted on her Twitter handle. The tweet has since been retweeted by Kalonzo and Wiper party. Sonko’s entry into the Mombasa politics is likely to cause jitters among supporters and politicians in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). ODM is expected to field Mvita MP Abdullswamad Sheriff for the seat. This is after the party leader Raila Odinga brokered a deal that saw businessman Suleiman Shahbal drop out of the race. The Mvita MP has not yet announced who his running mate will be. Former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar will be vying for the seat on a Kenya Kwanza ticket. Before Sonko’s entry, the race for Mombasa Governor had been billed to be between Abdullswamad Sheriff and Hassan Omar. The latest opinion poll released by Mizani Africa a few weeks ago had placed Abdullswamad Sheriff as the most preferred candidate for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat ahead of Hassan Omar. Sonko’s entry is likely to complicate further the race. He is known to have an ability to create a close connection with the common mwananchi, and it remains to be seen if he can replicate the Nairobi support base in Mombasa. Mombasa has for the last three general elections been considered an ODM zone, but Deputy President William Ruto has lately been making inroads in the region. He already has several key allies on his side, among them Nyali MP Mohammed Ali.