Hassan Omar Mombasa governor bid exposes cracks in UDA, ODM Coast pact

Omar's declaration and praise for Ruto

UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar has announced he will contest the Mombasa governorship in the 2027 General Election, vowing to be on the ballot despite growing pressure for political zoning between UDA and ODM. Speaking at a rally in Kisauni Sub-County, Omar framed his candidacy as part of a broader push to secure continued government support for the Coast.

Omar used the occasion to praise President William Ruto's administration, saying it is the only one that has shown love and care for the Mijikenda and other Coastal communities. "Today, President William Ruto has been a big saviour in Kenya," he said. "He has made us who were not recognised before: the Mijikenda community, the Orma community, the Pokomo community, the Taita and Taveta communities, the Bajuni community, and the Swahili and Arabs, who have since 1963 been marginalised, we have a face today."

Historical grievances and land reforms

Omar argued that successive regimes since independence have marginalised the Coast, denying residents land, education, roads, energy, water and other infrastructure. "The other regimes discriminated against us, marginalised us, and stole our lands. But today, through the UDSA government, we have recovered those lands," he said, using an apparent misspelling of UDA.

He cited the government's record on land reforms as evidence of change, stating that the Ruto administration has issued over 380,000 title deeds in the Coast region since August 2022. During the president's latest tour, over 33,000 titles were distributed across the six counties at a major drive held at the Mama Ngina Waterfront Park in Mombasa.

Defence of the UDA-ODM pact

Omar defended the UDA-ODM partnership, saying the opposition is trying every trick to divide it because they know it is strong enough to deliver President Ruto a second term. He called on Coastal residents to register as voters in large numbers, saying their numbers will ensure the region continues to be looked at by the government in power.

However, Omar also made clear he would not bow to zoning pressures. "We cannot be dictated to by anyone. We will make our own decisions," he said, in a veiled reference to ODM's push for territorial divisions. Negotiations between UDA and ODM over the past month have reportedly focused on an informal arrangement under which each side would be allowed to dominate selected counties while supporting its partner's candidates elsewhere. Coastal political insiders have suggested that Mombasa, Kilifi and Tana River could fall within areas where ODM would be given greater political space, while UDA would concentrate on Kwale, Taita-Taveta and Lamu.

Invoking liberation heroes

Omar invoked the memory of liberation heroes, including Mekatilili wa Menza, Ronald Ngala, Jembe Mwakalu, Joe Hamisi, and Karisa Maitha, calling on the Coast to follow their example in asserting its political weight.

Perspectives

Omar's position: UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar backs the UDA-ODM partnership but insists on contesting the Mombasa governorship, arguing that past regimes marginalised the Coast and that only the Ruto government has addressed these grievances through land reforms and development.

ODM's zoning push: Sections of ODM are pushing the party to field its own gubernatorial candidate in Kwale instead of supporting Governor Fatuma Achani, who is associated with UDA. At an ODM meeting at Vingujini Grounds in Kwale, a resident named Donate Mwavale confronted Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Ali Joho and said, "Listen to the women here. They are your mothers. They are the ones suffering."