Mike Sonko, who has been at the Coast for the last two weeks, has been urged to run for Mombasa Governor in the 2017 general election.
The Nairobi Senator has been meeting women’s groups and elders who have asked him to vie for the seat held by Hassan Joho.
The Senator, who was raised in Mombasa and attended Kwale High School, met a high-powered delegation of Mijikenda elders in Mtwapa last week. The elders reportedly urged him to shift his political base to Mombasa.
Last Thursday, a group of women waited for him for a whole day in Tudor to talk to him about making the change.
“He is not keen on opposing Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero but is planning to shift to Mombasa to face Joho head on in the next poll,” said one of the women who attended the meeting.
Sources said Jubilee could front Sonko for the position as he is seen to be the best chance at removing Joho, who is ODM deputy leader, from power.
The Senator has disapproved Joho’s criticism of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to the Coast saying it has been to the people’s benefit.
Uhuru has been in the region from December 24, 2015. He issued title deeds in Likoni and Lamu and launched the national street lighting project.
He also commissioned the Sh46 million water project in Faza and launched the construction of Port Reitz-Moi International access road and the Sh573 million Baricho water project.
Jubilee Mombasa county coordinator, Matano Chengo, said on Wednesday that Sonko can clinch any seat and would turn the political tables if he vied for the post.
“Sonko is a politician who has proven he can seek election anywhere because wherever he goes people demand he addresses them, even if he is not on the programme,” he said.
The Senator said on Wednesday that he was consulting on the matter, adding his visit to Mombasa concerns service delivery.
He accompanied Uhuru to the Mombasa Tea Trade Fair on Tuesday, the President saying while introducing him: “I’m also with the Nairobi Senator who has been causing a lot of havoc here.”
Sonko said: “I was elected overwhelmingly by Nairobians and by being close to the President. Defending him when he is attacked shows it is time to focus on delivering services to Kenyans.”
-the-star.co.ke
