MVITA

HON. NAJIB BALALA, MP (ODM)
Minister for Tourism

Immediate former MP: The late Hon. Shariff Nassir Taib, EGH ,
Minister of State in the Office of the President

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TWO-HORSE RACE OF NASSIR & BALALA LIKELY IN MVITA

By EDMUND KWENA
DAILY NATION
Tuesday, May 7, 2002

Daggers are drawn for the Mvita battle. This seat is expected to generate fireworks on the Mombasa poll scene right from the nomination stage as veteran Shariff Nassir fends off a fierce challenge for the Kanu ticket from former mayor Najib Balala.

It is almost certain that if the popular Mr Balala fails to win the Kanu ticket because of Mr Nassir's stranglehold on the party machinery, the main opposition parties would welcome him with open arms.Both Mr Mwai Kibaki's Democratic Party and Mr Simeon Nyachae's Ford People have left few doubts that they would like Mr Balala on their side should he be shortchanged in Kanu.Mr Balala himself has been playing his cards very close to the chest, but leaves no doubt that he will not heed "advice" once offered by President Moi that he leave the seat for Mr Nassir."You will witness the kind of campaigning that has never been seen in Mvita before," he promises.

The withdrawal from the race of Mr Omar Mwinyi, the man who gave Mr Nassir a scare in 1992, might make it a two-horse race between the incumbent and Mr Balala. But it is also likely that Mvita might witness a large field of candidates to split the Opposition vote, to Mr Nassir's advantage as happened in 1992 and 1997.Mr Nassir and Mr Balala aside, other likely candidates include Mr Ismail Mohamed Yunis, a former secretary-general of the Dockworkers Union and 1992 DP candidate. Muslim cleric Sheikh Juma Ngao is another likely candidate. He would represent what remains of the unregistered Islamic Party of Kenya of the fiery and controversial Sheikh Khalid Balala, who wants to run on the Green Party ticket.Another interesting candidate would be former Ford Asili Organising Secretary Ahmed Salim Bamahriz, who in the last election contested on a National Development Party ticket.

After the NDP merger with Kanu, Mr Bamahriz is understood to be leaving his options open, and is being courted by both DP and Ford People.But all focus right now is on the Kanu camp where, already, the Balala camp is crying foul. They claim they were locked out of the branch leadership in Mvita after "secret" branch elections in which Mr Nassir's supporters swept the board. Mr Balala is demanding that proper elections be conducted from the grassroots to pick popular leaders, but few in the Mombasa Kanu leadership are paying much attention.Both Mr Nassir and Mr Balala have started a door-to-door campaign and are drawing in hordes of young people.

Each man's style of politics is different.While Mr Nassir, a hard campaigner, pulls crowds because of his generosity, Mr Balala prefers to focus on issues pointing to his record of achievements during his brief tenure as mayor of Mombasa. He can boast of battling corruption and the grabbing of public land. He also earned praise for his campaign to rid the town of festering mounds of garbage.But he found out, to his cost, that being a charismatic and popular mayor is not enough. Mombasa tycoons, who play a pivotal role in local politics, had influenced his nomination to the council and election as mayor. When his activities went against their interests, he was swiftly shown the door.These are the very people who bankroll most major Mombasa politicians and are unlikely to support him against a more malleable Mr Nassir.

But Mr Balala's hopes seemed undimmed by prospects of being left out of the race. He said he was not worried about getting party nomination because he was sure Kanu would respect the people's call for change.He told party headquarters to reject "boardroon selections" which he accused for being responsible for putting into power people only out to gain their own selfish interests.To many, Mr Balala's announcement that he would contest the Mvita parliamentary seatcame as no surprise.Besides his own ambition to represent the constituency in Parliament, many supporters, fired by his charisma and brand of leadership, had already approached him, urging him to take a plunge."I have always had a vision for public service since my childhood. I believe people need good services, astute leadership and sustainable development. The only way to be effective in serving the people is by being in a position of authority.

"Mr Balala said his priorities for Mvita were economic development and education."The creation of a positive investment climate for micro- and small-scale enterprises has always been my dream for my people. This will be the only way of empowering them economically and saving them from poverty and the demeaning culture of dependence on hand-outs from politicians." Mr Balala is a newcomer in local politics while his opponent, Mr Nassir, has exercised a stranglehold on Mvita constituency for the last 28 years. At the age of 76 years, he is not about to quit. After serving as a backbencher and later an assistant minister for many years, Mr Nassir reached the epitome of his political career when President Moi rewarded his unflinching loyalty by appointing him a full minister in the current government.His political stock rose further with the recent Kanu national elections when he was picked party secretary for information and publicity.

Although the Mombasa Kanu boss had once indicated that he would be happy to retire along with President Moi, he now says he is going to remain politically active until he is satisfied that he has accomplished his mission in politics, to which he says he is committed and on which he has spent a fortune over the years."When My father left a fortune of Sh220 million. I invested all the money in politics. I have not gained in monetary terms and even live in a rented house. However, I never beg for money from embassies or rich people. I work for the money I donate at funds drives."He prides himself on not being a tribalist, saying he conducts harambees all over the country and that his efforts to help Kenyans are not hindered by tribal sentiments.

On withstanding insults in poltics: Surprisingly enough, those who abuse me inspire my resolve to work even harder and those who respect me I also respect them. I have nothing against any one because I understand that once you enter politics, you have to put up with all sorts of comments from your detractors.On accusations that he has done little for Mvita constituency: The MP dismisses accusations that his development record in Mvita is poor. "I have assisted many projects for the youth and for women. I have also built the Shariff Nassir Secondary School and the Mvita Primary School, among many other projects. People can say whatever they want to say, but I know that I have done a lot for Mvita people," he said.