The Lands Cabinet Secretary slot has allegedly been given to Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo in exchange for joining the Kenya Kwanza coalition of Deputy President William Ruto.
At the weekend, Mr Mbogo and former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko defected to Kenya Kwanza after giving up their bid for governor on a Wiper Party ticket..
They will instead back Hassan Omar, a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate.
Mr Mbogo claimed that the political agreement reached with Kenya Kwanza included the CS position.
Read: Sonko Ditches Raila’s Azimio for DP Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza
“I have gone through a lot of suffering in the Wiper Democratic Movement, but let us teach them a lesson on August 9. Dr Ruto will be Kenya’s fifth President and I will be the Lands CS,” he said.
Outgoing Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho was promised the same position by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga should he form the next administration.
“Between Governor Joho and I, who can you trust to help fight land injustices, grabbing and squatter challenges as Lands minister? I have never grabbed any land. Elect DP Ruto and Mr Omar so that we can resolve the challenges affecting this region,” Mr Mbogo stated.
In a memorandum of understanding with the Ruto-led alliance, Mr Sonko was also promised three principal secretaries and four ambassadorial appointments.
Read Also: Sonko Threatens To Exit Azimio, Back UDA’s Omar For Mombasa Governor
Mr Mbogo declared he would not back a political group that includes Governor Joho and ODM Mombasa governor candidate Mr Abdulswamad Nassir.
He exhorted his supporters to vote for UDA contenders.
“Vote in protest against our opponents,” said the first-time MP.
After Mr Sonko switched to Kenya Kwanza, Mombasa Wiper officials claimed that he had joined the Kalonzo Musyoka-led outfit in order to run for governor of Mombasa and protect himself from the political problems that resulted in his impeachment as Nairobi county boss in 2020.
Read Also: Sonko Disqualified From Mombasa Gubernatorial Race as He Files Case at EAC
Sheikh Omar Twaha, the chairman of Wiper in Mombasa, declared that the party would support Mr Nassir and Mr Odinga.
Mr Mbogo had been courted by Sheikh Twaha to stay with the party.
“All this time he was supporting DP Ruto and UDA but he has decided to come out openly. Wiper will remain in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition and we have decided to support the ODM gubernatorial candidate,” he said.
Mr Sonko pledged to evenly distribute the political seats to the people of Mombasa.
Read Also: Sonko Finally Cleared to Vie for Mombasa Governorship
“Mr Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua are our biggest traitors and number one enemy. Mr Joho is the man who frustrated our bid for governor. Ten years in leadership, Mr Joho has failed to bring developments in the county,” he said over the weekend.
The former Makadara MP joined Omar At the AIC church in Shanzu, where he spoke a message of peace while also thanking Mr Mbogo for supporting him.
He claimed that he had successfully negotiated enough posts in the national and county governments.
“Our opponents have promised Mr Joho the CS position so I proposed to the DP to give Mr Mbogo the same position so that we can end land challenges in this region,” he said.
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