Police on Saturday have been forced to lob teargas to disperse supporters of Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and EALA MP Hassan Omar after they clashed during a UDA Mombasa delegates meeting at the Government Training Institute (GTI) Mombasa.
The meeting which was to kick off at 10am is yet to begin after a standstill ensued between the supporters of the two UDA politicians.
UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala is attending the meeting but was forced to vacate the premises until calm is restored.
Ali and Omar, both close allies of President William Ruto have been at loggerheads for weeks.
The two, in separate functions last week bashed each other bragging rights over the party’s performance in last year’s general election where President William Ruto garnered 44 per cent of the votes cast for the presidential election.
“I am the one with the 44 percent of Mombasa votes through the UDA party. Let no one deceive you they are the ones who brought the votes,” said Omar.
Image: ONYANGO OCHIENG’
Speaking during the launch and empowerment of the Mombasa Links Limited, a business organization by former UDA aspirants from Mombasa last Saturday, Omar accused Ali of undermining his efforts to empower Mombasa people.
He lashed out at MP Ali asking him to do his own empowerment programs and stop being bitter about his activities.
“I have been striving to empower our people and others are bringing their hatred, who has stopped them from empowering the people, go on and do your empowerment if you want to”
He dared Ali to also call in the president for favours saying that it will also benefit the people instead of Ali channeling his energy to rebuke his empowerment programs.
“If I am able to call the president and ask him to do us a favor, you can also call in for other favors for our people, that is common sense. At the end of the day, it is our people benefiting, you can’t be constantly abusing me and sending people to abuse me, come slowly my friend,” Omar said.
MP Ali in a rejoinder alleged that money issued as empowerment kitty was meant for the 2022 campaign that he stashed causing the UDA party to lose seats in Mombasa.
Out of the 30 MCA seats in Mombasa, UDA managed only four with Ali becoming the only UDA MP in Mombasa out of the six constituencies.
“There are people walking around making noise as they dish out money we gave them during campaigns. Instead of using the money for campaigns, they hid it.Today they are coming out using the money to brainwash our children,” said Ali. BY THE STAR