Panic in Nasa after Joho gets dumped

Sultan of Mombasa as some residents of Mombasa fondly like to refer to him, prides himself as one of ODM most visible and ‘popular’ leaders across the nation.

It is no wonder that he has been one of the ODM's senior leaders spearheading Nasa presidential campaigns even in Nyanza, the hometuft of Nasa flagbearer Raila Odinga.

Joho may however not easily clinch the Mombasa governor’s seat as easily as he had assumed.

A section of members of the Luo community in Mombasa which calls itself the Luo Union Mombasa chapter have withdrawn their support for Governor Joho less than a month away from the August 8 general election.

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The Luo community has cited a number of grievances among them sacking of members of the community from key jobs in the incumbent's administration, mistreatment, exclusion and being sidelined by Joho's government.

"Our stand is very simple. We do not support Joho. We cannot support Joho. We will never support Joho," Mikindani MCA Duncan Onyango said on Tuesday during a press conference in Mombasa.

"Nobody can persuade us to do so." He added.

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The union's chairman Remjius Ongoro, secretary Cleopas Okoth and Organising Secretary John Mbadi all echoed the sentiments.

The 5,000 members strong decamped from Joho’s camp and pledged their allegiance to his main rival, Senator Hassan Omar of the Wiper party.

Mombasa governor’s politics has sharply divided the group, Nyali MP Hezron Awiti who is also eyeing the seat and comes from the Luo community has also complicated matters.

Last week, two Luo groups clashed over who to support for governor between Joho and Awiti, while the Luo Council of Elders chairman Obara Kings claims Joho is the best bet, the council's founding member Joseph Obuya supports the Nyali MP saying the community better works with Awiti.

All the Luo MCAs elected on the ODM ticket were unfairly bundled out of the party primaries, something the union holds Joho responsible for.

"The Luo community has told him on his face [that we will not vote for him]. That is why he is running to Raila to save him," the Mikindani MCA said.

Joho has however come out to defend himself by presenting himself as one of Raila's fiercest defenders.

"You cannot say you are supporting Baba (Raila) yet you are stepping on Luos at the ground," the Luo Union chairman said.

Early this year, ODM party leader while in Mombasa met with the Luo community and urged them not to abandon the governor after similar complaints were raised against him.