Mwakwere fit for deputy PM's slot

SUNDAY TIMES

Commentary & Analysis

March 23, 2008

Story by: OMAR ALI

Much has been commented pertaining to the selections and appointments of the two Deputy Prime Ministers’ positions that were created by the latest constitutional amendment.
Before William Ruto courageously endorsed his party’s presidential running mate, Musalia Mudavadi, to one of the two posts, every tribe was pushing for one of their own to be named to the two coveted spots from amongst their respective political parties.

Now that the matter within Orange Democratic Movement has been settled, there is a compelling need to look at how political power distribution stands in the country. Kenya is about to embark on a journey of national reconciliation and in order to genuinely investigate the recent mayhem, every region ought to be recognized and appreciated in a form of balancing the national leadership positions.

Power-sharing as has been agreed by the Kofi Annan-led mediation talks that will lead to installing and or making Raila Odinga a prime minister and some of his close associates’ becoming cabinet ministers is only a short term solution to the country’s ailments. There is more than needs to be done and not to give power to the few and all will be well. Some regions have more than their share of national leadership positions while others have never had the opportunity to be given any of these positions. For instance, if we are to count the office of the Chief Justice as one of the national leadership positions, the country has a total of eight of those positions, namely the president, prime minister, vice president, two deputy primers, speaker and deputy speaker. As we all know, the presidency, vice presidency, and speaker and deputy speaker are filled.

So far Central province with two individuals amongst the eight enjoys the lion’s share by having the top seat in the land (the presidency) and that of the chief justice. Eastern occupies the vice presidency. The posts of the National Assembly Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are held by individuals hailing from Western and North Eastern provinces’ respectively. Raila, the Prime Minister-designate, a legislator representing a parliamentary constituency in the Nairobi, is without saying represents his native Nyanza province.

As part of the mediation and power-sharing agreement the Lang’ata lawmaker is all but assured of taking the premiership. With Raila becoming the second prime minister in the history of independent Kenya, brings us to Coast province, a region that has not had the chance to be represented at national leadership level in the history of independent Kenya. The country’s presidents, vice presidents, premier (and soon to be premiers), national assembly speakers and deputy speakers have all hailed from every other province but the Coast. This is not just a mere coincidence. Not all those positions I have named are fought competitively, all but one are given out for whatever reasons. For instance, the country has had ten vice presidents, a presidential appointment, but no Coast politician has been deemed fit to be appointed to the coveted number slot. Why is that the case? Now with Ruto having endorsed Mudavadi, ODM has settled the matter on their party’s slot.

This leaves PNU as the only party that has a chance to rise above petty regional politics and select one of their own from the seaside province for their spot. It is very disingenuous that some people are making the case for PNU to appoint Uhuru Kenyatta or Martha Karua to the position, or even Kiraitu Murungi or George Saitoti. With all due respect to these PNU politicians, the proposed individuals all come from regions that are already represented at national level or have historical been represented before as is the case with Saitoti’s Rift Valley province.

I will be accused of being biased here for making the case for a Coastal politician to be appointed to the deputy prime minister’s post. As for the biased charges, I will say, I am guilty as charged but the fact remains that PNU needs to select a politician from the Coast for their slot. The best pick for the party is Ambassador Chirau Ali Mwakwere, a consistent loyal supporter of President Mwai Kibaki. The Transport Minister is an experienced hand and the President’s staunch ally and one of the first among equals’ loyalists. In terms of education, professional experience and expertise, the former Foreign Affairs Minister is a match to any politician in the country. At grassroots level, the two term Matuga MP hails from Coast province’s most populous Mijikenda community. He was recently endorsed by the community’s Council of Elders through their Secretary General Vincent Mwachiro who noted: “Appointing Minister Mwakwere to one of the two deputy prime ministerial posts is an important move in ensuring that leadership opportunities are given to all communities in this country,”

If it makes any different, which I believe it should, the Matuga MP is also a Muslim, the religious community that has risen only to the deputy speaker’s post in the national leadership positions in the country since independence. If United States is on the verge of electing Sen Barack Obama as the nation’s first lack president, who incidentally has Kenyan roots, why can’t Kenya name the first Muslim to a deputy prime minister’s position? Internationally, Mwakwere has served as a diplomat in Zimbabwe and United Arab Emirates that gave him the crucial ‘diplomatic circles exposure’ that comes handy for this position. Such experience and or exposure are critical. Since not having such experience can usually expose a politician to much ridicule.
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http://www.kenyatimesonline.com/content.asp?catid=5&articleId=2209

It will be perilous to ignore Mungatana

SUNDAY TIMES

Commentry & Analysis

March 23, 2008

Story by: Omar Ali

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The two major partners that will form the Unity Government, namely PNU and ODM should heed the call made by Danson Mungatana very seriously.
The Garsen MP proposed the two political organizations establish a secretariat that would belong to their union, to act as a “nerve centre” for their working coalition. We must realize that the two political parties and their affiliates are not a willing coalition but one that was necessitated after the disputed presidential election.

I am afraid that the former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Assistant Minister will be dismissed as a noise maker but, this time at leat, I think Mungatana has made a great suggestion as the way forward. Kenya politicians are very jittery of ‘coalition’ governments’ because of the not so great Narc experience.

It must be remembered that ODM as a political party refused to become a coalition of parties simply because of “the NARC incident”. Hence the party wanted to remain as a single political entity as a party and politicians from other parties such as Kanu and others were compelled to switch their parties’ loyalties to join ODM.

The problems that faced the original Narc as a coalition were the fact that there were no functional party organs and no one made any effort to build them. We saw that the then ruling party did not conduct any elections.
To date Ngilu still has the party certificate in her hand bag or pocket book.
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http://www.kenyatimesonline.com/content.asp?catid=5&articleId=2211

Sort out this mess, Mr Speaker

SUNDAY TIMES

Commentary and Analysis

March 23, 2008

Story by: Omar Ali

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Iam no political scientist, but would assume that in the latest constitutional amendment that created the post of a prime minister and two deputy premiers, the amendment did not do away with the constitutional office of the Leader of Official Opposition in Parliament. With the forming of the incoming PNU/ODM Unity Government, there is no "Leader of Official Opposition in Parliament."

According to some press statement by the chairman of the Law Society of Kenya, Okong’o O’Mogeni and other legal minds, I understand that the law requires that the Leader of Official Opposition in parliament’ must come from a party with at least 15 parliamentary seats hence O’Mogeni strangely wanted the ODM Kenya leader, Kalonzo Musyoka to resign his vice presidency position and assume the position.

Unless the LSK chairman was joking, because an individuals must be out of his or her mind to resign from the country’s number two position with all the power and perks that come along and go and assume the job of being the leader of opposition.

O’Mogeni has since changed his mind and now seeking the Speaker of National Assembly Kenneth Marende ‘should put in place mechanisms to amend standing orders and allow the formation of an official Opposition by a coalition of small parties.’ I happen to agree with the LSK chairman here because the National Assembly standing orders were skipped where the debate of the constitutional amendment took less than five days instead of the required fourteen days to be debated and passed.
The parliamentary Standing Orders where the Leader of Official Opposition in Parliament must come from a political party with 15 MPs could be altered so that any MP elected by not less than fifteen MPs (or any agreeable number) shall assume the status.

The rule could also mandate that an individual who is elected by all backbenchers from political parties that are not affiliated to the political parties that have formed the government or are part of the government. The Speaker should rise above the fray and put in place mechanism where an official opposition is made possible to exist in the August House.

Boldly speaking to the honorable Speaker, it is one thing to make it possible for a parliamentary live coverage by the media where very fewer Kenyans have television sets in their homes but it another when you will make it possible for the country to have a respectable opposition arrangement in the august house.

omarahmedali@gamil.com

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http://www.kenyatimesonline.com/content.asp?catid=5&articleId=2210

Veteran politician Robert Stanley Matano is dead.

Matano, 83 died in a Coast hospital after a short illness.
Matano joined politics in 1960s and became KANU's secretary General in 1969 after the death of Tom Mboya.

He served as cabinet minister in various portfolios.
Matano was born in 1925 and attended Mazeras school, CMS school in Kaloleni, Kaaga high school in Meru and Alliance high school between 1936 and 1945.

He graduated with a Diploma in Education from Makerere University in 1948 to start his teaching career at Ribe Boys Junior Secondary School and later at Alliance High School.
He was then promoted to District Education Officer in charge of Mombasa and Kwale districts.
Matano was enticed into politics in 1960 by Kenya National Democratic Union (Kadu) leader the late Ronald Ngala.

Matano was acting KANU secretary General for 10 years from 1969 to 1979 when he was confirmed and held the post till August 1985.

He lost the position to Burudi Nabwera in that year's national party elections.
He was Kinango MP for 25 years and served as a cabinet minister in both Kenyatta and Moi governments.

House Business Committee constituted

Parliament has constituted the house business committee, the most crucial committee in parliament.
The 20 member committee saw ODM occupy ten slots as the other 10 were distributed among PNU, ODM Kenya, Kanu and Safina.

ODM Pentagon members led by Prime minister designate Raila Odinga with the exception of nominated MP Joseph Nyagah are represented in the committee and so are Tinderet member Henry Kosgey, Omingo Magara, Prof Anyang Nyong'o, Jakoyo Midiwo and Ali Mohammed Mohamud.

The PNU side has ministers Martha Karua, Moses Wetangula, Prof George Saitoti, Amos Kimunya, Kiraitu Murungi and George Thuo. ODM Kenya has Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, and Mutula Kilonzo. Uhuru Kenyatta represents Kanu while Safina has also one representative, Wajir west member Adan Keynan.
Leader of government business Kalonzo Musyoka moved the motion that sought to establish the house business committee.

He said the country eagerly awaits the progress by parliament on the negotiated power deal between President Kibaki and Raila Odinga and it is crucial that the house business committee if formed to enable it set the agenda for the house.
The motion was seconded by justice minister Martha Karua who said both teams had consulted widely over representation in the committee.

Raila’s maths on ODM’s Cabinet

Prime Minister-Designate Odinga

After the enactment of all the relevant laws that will put in place the grand coalition and the establishment of the posts of Prime Minister and two deputy premiers, it will be interesting to see which individuals from Orange Democratic Movement under the leadership of Prime Minister-Designate Raila Odinga are picked as his cabinet appointments.

Perhaps, except for one the former Gachoka MP Joe Nyaga, it is more than likely that the party’s Pentagon members will all make it to the cabinet. In addition it is believed that even the party’s Deputy Prime Minister will also come amongst the Pentagon members. Nobody knows the exact total number of cabinet dockets President Mwai Kibaki and Raila will agree to have in their new look grand coalition government.

But it cannot be more than thirty four members. If it exceeds that, then Kenyans will come to the realization that all what ODM wanted was power, power and power.
All those party reform slogans on good governance, anti-corruption, lean cabinet and champions of the poor Kenyans and the disfranchised was only a way of achieving their self-centred goals. The tough part will be which names Raila will put forward to formulate the rest of his cabinet, after he has settled the matters with his Pentagon team. Other ODM legislators likely to make it to the Cabinet are the party’s Secretary-General, national chairman and national treasurer, Peter Anyan’g Nyong’o, Henry Kosgey and Omingo Magara respectively.

The only Pentagon member, Nyagah, who the party has nominated to the National Assembly, might be the only Pentagon member not making the Cabinet. The former Gachoka MP might settle for an assistant ministerial position or agree to a good possible option and become a chairman of one of the several Parliamentary Select Committees that ODM and PNU will jointly hold.

Let us assume that the prime minister-designate has to name seventeen members since the president did the same when he named his partial cabinet. With the three national officials and the four pentagon members (excluding Nyagah) this brings that number to seven. The Lang’ata MP will remain with ten slots and it will be telling how wisely he will distribute these, while taking into consideration gender, religious, tribal and regional balance.

Once the dust settles the Coastal people and separately the Muslim community will see what I have always been telling them in my commentaries, that ODM win is only a win for the Mvita MP. I see only Balala to be the lone and sole beneficiary of this win. I would love to be proven wrong. The Coast voters and separately the Muslim community need to keenly watch and see who else apart from Balala is selected for a full cabinet slot and what dockets will they (if any) be handed to manage.

When it comes to the Coast people, President Kibaki has already appointed two MPs from the region in his seventeen member cabinet –Transport Minister Chirau Mwakwere and Office of the President Minister for Special Programmes Minister Dr Mrs Naomi Shabaan. One could be tempted to ask, why use the Coast as a barometer in gauging Raila.

It is pretty simple. Out of the seaside province’s twenty one parliamentary seats, the president’s PNU and all its affiliates including ODM Kenya managed to secure eight seats, and yet Kibaki gave the province two cabinet posts out of the eight parliamentarians. Raila’s ODM and one of its silent affiliates, Ganze MP Francis Baya-led KADU-Asili took the remaining thirteen seats. That is the math. Wapwani should wait and see what happens.

I should add that KADU-Asili is the first ODM causality as the party’s affiliation with ODM has since been disowned by Prof Nyon’go who gave a press statement naming all ODM affiliates and did not include KADU-Asili. The Muslim community which in many instances is very much intertwined with the Coast issue has already been recognized by Kibaki in his appointment of three members to his Cabinet, namely, Mwakwere, Shabaan and the Ijara MP Mohamed Yussuf Haji, who was appointed to head the Office of the President for Defence docket.

These are not imaginations but political realities. One could argue that two of the six Nominated MP slots of ODM were given to the Muslims because of ODM leadership honouring its MoU with the Muslims. My answer here is very simple; ODM gave two slots to the Muslims because of the signed MoU, while Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka-led ODM Kenya gave the Muslims the same number of MPs where there was no MoU of any kind in place. Indigenous coastal people, and separately the Muslims ought to listen and to listen well.

I speak boldly that if none of the two major parties - ODM or PNU does not pick a Muslim for one the two DPM posts, Muslims ought to evaluate their political support for both the parties in future elections.

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Story by Omar Ali

SUNDAY TIMES

http://www.kenyatimesonline.com/content.asp?catid=5&articleId=1700

Media has scores to settle with local leaders

Karua

It is repugnant that our local press is enjoying trashing and putting local our politicians in a bad light at every opportune time they get. Even if the stories reported are erroneous, misleading and false. Our journalists, editors and columnists like to praise foreigners more than they would their own compatriots. Look at the manner in which Nairobi based diplomats are being revered as if they are angels.

When Edward Clay was the United Kindom’s High Commissioner in Nairobi, he used to receive press coverage even when he attended a children Christmas party as Santa Claus and got front page coverage! Many a times we have read biographies and accomplishments of foreign dignitaries, recent ones being that of Graca Machel, and Oluyemi Adeniji. But when it comes to local politicians it is completely a different ball game.

Take the recent case of the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Martha Karua, for instance. “The Swiss deny minister visa to travel to Geneva” went the eye catching news story. The way the story was written gave the unsuspecting public an impression of who that Minister was without mentioning the individual’s name. I understand one local TV channel made it very clear who it was also without mentioning the name.

They were pointing fingers to Ms Martha Karua was alleging that she was denied visa to visit Geneva, Switzerland where she was set to travel to on official Government duties leading the country’s delegation to a UN human right conference event. It has come to light that the news story was not only misleading and untrue, but was conceivably intentionally published to malign and put her on a bad light; perhaps because of her stand in the mediation talks.

Had the no nonsense Karua not come out and called a press conference where she displayed her “visa stamped passport” to the public, the impression in the people minds would have lasted forever that she has been embarrassed by the Swiss embassy in Nairobi. I abhor the cheap shot acts of the media houses aimed at our politicians from any side of the political divide.

The story left many reasonable thinking people wondering as to how possible such a misleading report by two leading media houses (not this paper) got published in the first place. What was the rationale in publishing the story? what was it is supposed to achieve? That “news item” must have passed across several individuals before it got published on the front pages of the newspapers. It is a pity that none of these individuals checked the facts.

Take it further, none of these editors are aware of the fact that any country which is a host of UN agencies cannot deny visas to government officials who are on official duties with the UN. That is even if they don’t agree with them or are not friendly to those countries where the officials are coming from. A case in point was when the President of Iran travelled to the USA last year, visiting New York City to attend the UN General Assembly conference.

Everyone knows that if given a choice the US government would never approve visa for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit USA. Therefore if it were true that Karua was denied visa, the headlines needed to have condemn the denial and not rejoice in trashing her.

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Story by Omar Ali

Sunday Times, 9 March 2008

http://www.kenyatimesonline.com/content.asp?catid=5&articleId=1701

PM post good for governance

Finally, Kenya will once again have a prime minister. I support the establishment of the Office of the PM but oppose the proposed duties, functions and how the position is poised to be positioned in the republic.

The premier should have been the head of the legislative branch, the same way the president and the chief justice are the heads of the executive and the judiciary branches of the government respectively. The position should enjoy the responsibility to control the legislative agenda in the August House.

The majority party which would be the PM’s party would take control of all the parliamentary select committees chairpersons and will have the majority members in the respective committees’ composition. The committees need to be given appropriate prosecutorial powers in order to make them effective.

In addition all presidential and other executive branch appointees should undergo appropriate parliamentary committee rigorous confirmation hearings before being confirmed to their respective appointments. The exception to this rule should be perhaps the cabinet members since they are also MPs.
In addition all State House employees stationed and or working at State House such as the President Private Secretary/ State House Comptroller and others should also not be subjected to the confirmation hearing.
Boldly speaking, in the agreed arrangements, the prime minister will have no constitutional powers to do anything when it comes to the executive and or the judiciary braches. But just to coordinate government functions.
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Omar Ali
March 02, 2008

Obama train unstoppable

States Senator Barack Obama is not a Muslim and has never been one. Obama who is likely going to be the Democratic Party presidential nominee is being portrayed to be a Muslim just because his middle name is Hussein like his father Barack Hussein Obama Sr.
The manner is which the youthful Senator from the state of Illinois – the land of Lincoln – has created a movement and the way he is loved not only by the core Democratic Party members but majority of Americans in general is mesmerizing. Obama’s candidacy has become a phenomenon more unimaginable than the fall of the Berlin Wall or the fall of the communist Soviet Union.

Obama is correctly portrayed as the second John Fitzgerald Kennedy, or JFK to may people. It is not a mean achievement to be compared to let alone be portrayed as JFK in American politics.
The world richest democracy’s political arena has not seen so much interest displayed by its people in their political parties’ primaries in the recent memories the way they are seeing Obama bringing people from all walks of life, young, old, Black, White and Latino, rich and poor, men and women to the party primaries polls.

For instance, I attended Obama’s rally in the city of Wilmington (Delaware) last month where 20, 000 people showed up. It took me and fellow rally attendees almost two hours to queue and remain in line to go through a security check before entering the rally venue.
People queued for two hours in a blistering cold morning just to go see and hear this man preach politics of hope. The rally made to the history books as it became the biggest political rally in the history of the state of Delaware and I am happy to have been one of those history making attendees. Obama is currently filling stadia both in Texas and Ohio, the battleground for the coming Tuesday primaries.

If Obama is to win in the Tuesday’s primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont he is likely going to be the presumptive DP presidential nominee. If there is any non-white who has a chance to become a US a president in our lifetime then that man is Obama.
No one thought that the DP primary will still be going on in February and that there will be no clear nominee because most political pundits thought Senator Hillary Clinton would have already clinched the nomination.

Obama is now fighting battles waged from three different fronts; the former First Lady Mrs Clinton for the DP nomination, another front waged by Senator John McCain the presumptive Republican Party nominee, and the third one from President George W Bush who is trying to assist McCain in preparing for battle with Obama for the presidency.
Let us hope that Americans have really woken up politically and will not be cheated ever again with the politics of fear that was the main rationale that saw re-election of President George W Bush.
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Omar Ahmed Ali
Sunday, March 02, 2008

Re-birth of new Kenya

PNU should pick deputy PM from Coast Province

The signing of the power sharing deal between President Mwai Kibaki and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga is good news to every Kenyan and friends of Kenya in the whole world. We join hands with fellow Kenyans not only to congratulate the two leaders for their bold move in signing the accord but also to rejoice.

We all hope that, they will carry through the agreement and that peace will once again prevail in our beloved nation. With the signing of the accord and the forming of the grand coalition, the country will have five senior national leadership positions- the President, Prime Minister, Vice-President, and two deputy premiers.

Given the turmoil that followed after the 2007 General Election, the law or the Act of Parliament which is poised to establish these positions must make provisions that individuals who will hold these positions must hail from different tribes and provinces.
In Lebanon, for example, the law is that if a President is a Muslim, the Prime Minister must be Christian and vice versa. That is what is needed in Kenya not with regard to Muslims and Christians but with regard to different tribes and regions for the five positions.
Individuals must hail from five different tribes and regions. Perhaps, the law must even spell out that one of the five national leadership post must be held by a Muslim.The Muslim constituency is being ignored in Kenya as an important bloc that is only sought after during elections, but that is another subject altogether for another day.

Back to regional and tribal based leadership politics. Nairobi area although considered a province must be excluded from counting as one of the provinces in the distribution of the positions. Any politician elected in one of the Nairobi constituencies should be considered to have hailed from his or her native province.
For instance, Raila, Fred Gumo and Beth Mugo to name but three would be considered to have hailed from Nyanza, Western and Central provinces respectively. As we stand right now the President Kibaki and the V-P Kalonzo Musyoka hail from Central and Eastern provinces respectively.

The Prime Minister would more likely than not going to be from Nyanza – Raila. As for the two deputy premiers ODM would most likely pick a Rift Valley politician, and perhaps on a slightly chance it might opt for Raila’s running mate Musalia Mudavadi (from Western). When I say ODM will on a slim chance picking an individual from Western Province, I am not ignoring the populous Western Province at all.
It must not be forgotten that the region has produced the last three Vice Presidents of the country, from Mudavadi to the late Michael Kijana Wamalwa to the former Funyula MP Moody Awori. Every province but Coast and North Eastern provinces have neither produced a Prime Minister, President, or a Vice President.
Coast Province has not produced any politician who has been privileged to hold either one these national leadership positions in the history of independent Kenya. We have to remember that other than the Presidency, all of these positions are dished out on appointment basis. It is not hard to predict that ODM will likely “elect” or “select” William Ruto as their choice for their party deputy Prime Minister’s slot.

Ruto’s selection to the position by his party is going to be a reward for the Eldoret North MP for being able to rally his populous native Rift Valley behind the ODM train. Although ODM could surprise Kenyans and pick Dr Sally Kosgei for the position, to appease their women supporters but the chances are very slim for such a happening. The Party of National Unity (PNU) slot is the one that is going to be very hard to predict who they are going to pick for the position.
Giving the position to any individual from Central and Eastern provinces will be an imprudent political move. The position should be allocated to the Coast region. Among the five PNU Council members—leaders of their respective political parties—it was only Chirau Ali Mwakwere (Shirikisho) and Uhuru Kenyatta (Kanu) and who retained their Parliamentary seats in the last General Election.

Other council members, Musikari Kombo, Raphael Tuju and Simon Nyachae all lost in their re-election bids. The Matuga MP retained his seat on a PNU banner, as opposed to the Local Government Minister who was re-elected on a Kanu ticket. Boldly speaking, I would urge PNU to seriously consider giving this position to a Coastal politician.

This will go along way in making the people of the region feel that they are recognized and an important and appreciated constituency. In addition, the Coastal people would be able to have pride as being part and parcel of a united Kenya. PNU need to choose wisely.

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Omar Ahmed Ali
Updated on: Sunday, March 02, 2008

COUNCILLORS ELECT A NEW MOMBASA MAYOR

His Worship COUN. Muhdahr is IN histhird term as nominated councilor


Story by FARAJ DUMILA


Coastweek - - Mombasa councilors have elected Councillor Ahmed Abubaker Muhdhar as the new Mayor, .
His elected deputy is Councillor John C. Mcharo.

His Worship Muhdhar is his third term as a nominated councilor.
While his deputy mayor - Coun. Mcharo is a highly experienced civic leader as this is his third term as the elected councilor for Kisauni constituency Freretown Ward.

The duo have often worked closely together while they were councilors during their earlier respective tenure.

They warmly thanked their colleagues and all those who directly or indirectly helped them in winning the strongly contested election between them and their rivals within the ODM.


That is the nominated councilor Taufiq Balala as the candidate for mayoral position and his deputy Coun. Babu Kombo the veteran civic leader of Mikindani Ward.
The final vote was a close 22 against 20.

An observer at the Town Hall noted: "This election took place in a decent and friendly atmosphere which reflected the political maturity and leadership qualities of both councillors and the officials who organized and conducted this admirable event."

Kisauni M.P. Hon. Ali Hassan Joho and Likoni M.P. Hon. Mwalimu Mwihima were there to congratulate the winning team and expressed their willingness to offer any help needed to make the council perform their responsibilities to the satisfaction of Mombasa residents.

Hon. Joho with the nominated councilor - Coun. Mohamed Hatimy (Babadi) who is also the KFF Chairman said: "Mombasa is now on the move under these energetic leaders and with co-operation of Mombasa residents we are confident in achieving great success."