That Mombasa and the Coastal strip is a bedrock of the Orange Democratic Movement is not in doubt. This is partly attributed to a strong network of grassroots support and mobilisation from 2005 by the region’s most prominent leaders, to date.
For the last fifteen years, outgoing Mombasa governor Hassan Joho has been one of the leading ODM lights from the region, together with his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi. However, with their (Joho and Kingi) final terms in office ODM leader Raila Odinga seems to be creating a new and younger team to take over the orange party’s activities in the coastal region. At least for the next ten years.
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Mvita MP, Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, the youthful Mvita MP is touted as one of the leaders being groomed by Raila Odinga to be the face of ODM, for the next ten years just like Governor Joho has from 2013. Mr. Nassir, who enjoys massive support in Mombasa county has declared his interest in the gubernatorial seat and has thrown his hat in the ring, for the ODM party ticket.
A Chair of the powerful Parliamentary Investment Committee and son to the late veteran politician Sharif Nassir, the Mvita lawmaker has served as MP for the last ten years and boasts of a rich political experience, having been raised by a politician as a father.
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Two weeks ago, the legislator hosted Raila Odinga in Mombasa for two days and is again accompanying the ODM boss on his tour of the Coast region, which kicked off in Tana River yesterday.