Governor Abdulswamad Nassir’s administration is embroiled in internal feuds that threaten service delivery in Mombasa.
The city’s county executives were sworn into office six months after Governor Nassir assumed the mantle of leadership.
Mombasa became the last county to swear in its county executive committee members since the August 2022 general election.
Governor Nassir and his deputy Francis Thoya were sworn into office on September 15 2022. He was elected on an ODM party ticket. However, for now, two camps have emerged among county executive one, leaning towards the governor with another behind his deputy.
The governor had been under pressure to name his cabinet after Thoya wanted half of the cabinet. Thoya is close to former governor Hassan Joho.
But finally, on January 16, Nassir named his 10-member cabinet.
The cabinet has education and digital transformation executive Mbwarali Mboramad, Evans Oanda, finance and economic planning docket. Swabah Ahmed Omar (health services), Daniel Manyala (transport and infrastructure), Emily Okello (water, natural resources and climate change resilience) and Mohamed Hussein (lands, housing and urban planning).
Others are Kenneth Muigai (public service administration, youth, gender, social services and sports) Kibibi Khamis (blue economy agriculture and livestock) and Mohamed Osman who leads the tourism, culture and trade department.
Thoya was handed another portfolio of environment and solid waste and management docket but word has it that he has fallen out with those engaged in cleaning services.
Sources add that the deputy has been forcing Oanda of finance to facilitate payments that are suspicious.
The fighting has now seen 16 chief officers sucked into the fray. Four chief officers who served under Joho but were retained are being blamed for the wars in the county.
Nassir retained chief officer Albert Keno in the transport and infrastructure docket, information and communication technology chief officer Anwar Said, and Khamis Kurichwa of youth, sports and social services.
Former public health chief officer Pauline Oginga was moved to the environment docket.
Former public health director Shem Patta was named chief officer for clinical services, and director for education Rosylin Randu chief officer for education.
Nassir’s link to Kenya Kwanza coalition saw MCAs reject his chief officer nominee for renewable energy, natural resources and climate change resilience John Kiprop, a Kalenjin.
