D-day as Msambweni voters pick leader in mini election

Munira Mandan

More than 68,000 registered voters in Msambweni  constituency, will today decide on who is the Coast kingpin between Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho.

This comes after a two-month-long campaign led by the two governors, with Joho campaigning for ODM candidate Omar Boga and Mvurya backing Feisal Bader, an independent candidate. 

Although there are eight candidates contesting the parliamentary seat, the battle has largely been between the duo. 

Today Joho and Mvurya keep their fingers crossed, with each remaining optimistic their candidates will clinch the seat.

During the last campaign rallies, Mvurya, who has been traversing the constituency with a host of MPs allied to the Tanga Tanga faction of the ruling Jubilee Party, said he will only earn respect from ODM politicians and their insults through Bader’s win.

“I urge you to save me from insults and political under estimation I normally get from the ODM politicians. Go vote for Bader, if you want me to be respected,” Mvurya said.

At Maasai Bus Park, Joho led scores of MPs and senators, wooing voters to vote for Boga, saying the victory will determine his Coast’s political future. 

“It is you people of Msambweni who will choose my Coastal political ambition. If you vote for Boga you will raise my progile and I assure you, I have very good future plans for the people of the Coast region, so don’t let me down,” Joho said.

Meanwhile, the  Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has assured that all preparations are in place ahead of today’s by-election.

The Returning Officer Yusuf Abubakar said that all the election materials are ready to be dispatched to the various polling centres.

Msambweni has 60 polling centers and 129 stations.

Abubakar said that security is adequate to ensure everything is running smoothly during the exercise.

Abubakar noted that the Covid-19 guidelines will be followed in each polling station to make sure that everyone is safe.

In the polling stations, some of the IEBC officials will be there to make sure that Covid-19 rules are followed. 

The seat fell vacant in March after the death of Suleiman Dori.