Newly elected Mombasa county assembly majority
leader Priscilla Mumba at the county assembly
on Tuesday / BRIAN OTIENO
Tuesday’s removal of Likoni MCA Athman Mwamwiri as majority leader in the Mombasa county assembly highlights the power struggle between Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and speaker Aharub Khatri.
The two leaders have had a rocky relationship for nearly two years, marked by what appears to be friendly exchanges on the surface, but are in reality subtle clashes.
Mwamwiri is part of a group of eight MCAs who have pledged unwavering support to the governor and actively promote his agenda.
Out of 32 MCAs, 24 voted to remove Mwamwiri. The Likoni ward rep faced criticism for allegedly siding with Nassir at the expense of Mombasa residents.
The removal stemmed from an ODM party resolution passed at a kamukunji meeting on July 3, which was endorsed by branch secretary general Geoffrey Busaka.
Khatri formally announced his removal during the assembly session that saw Mwamwiri ousted, saying “the party has spoken”.
Mwamwiri’s replacement, Ganjoni/Shimanzi MCA Priscilla Mumba, is a strong supporter of Khatri and makes history as the second female majority leader in a county assembly, following Hanifah Mwajirani of Kwale.
Sources aligned with the speaker told the Star that more political ‘casualties’ are expected as the factional battle continues.
One major point of contention was Mwamwiri’s refusal to support the Mombasa County Ward Equitable Development Act.
The Act mandates that at least 30 per cent of the county’s development funds be allocated to all wards based on audited revenues, excluding conditional grants.
According to Tononoka MCA Ali Shariff, this law guarantees that every ward receives a minimum of Sh20 million for development projects.
Shariff explained that the Act, which was enacted despite the governor’s initial rejection, aims to eliminate the need for MCAs to seek the governor’s favour in order to secure development funding.
“There will no longer be a situation where one has to beg for development or toe the line to get projects,” he said.
Following her election, Mumba emphasised that leadership should prioritise the greater good of residents rather than the interests of political sponsors.
“We felt we can no longer work with someone who puts the interests of one person ahead of the people of Mombasa,” she said.
Kadzandani MCA Fatma Kushe, a close ally of Speaker Khatri, echoed these sentiments, stressing that ward-level development is the reason devolution was introduced.
“Development must be decentralised and reach the grassroots as a right, not as a favour from anyone,” she noted.
Kushe warned that without a dedicated development fund, MCAs would be forced to seek the county chief’s goodwill to access resources, a practice detrimental to genuine development.
Nominated MCA Milka Ngare, chairperson of the Women’s Caucus in Kenya and a Khatri supporter, celebrated Mumba’s rise as a sign of progress for women’s leadership in Mombasa.
“As a woman, I feel vindicated. We have been pushing for more women in high political positions and Mombasa is slowly showing us that change is possible,” Ngare said.
The decision came a day after Nassir was photographed with four Mombasa MPs—Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni), Badi Twalib (Jomvu), Omar Mwinyi (Changamwe), Mohamed Machele (Mvita)—and Senator Mohamed Faki, at his office.
Absent were Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, Nyali’s Mohammed Ali and Mombasa woman representative Zamzam Mohamed. Ali and Zamzam are reportedly at odds with the governor.
Political analysts interpreted this gathering as an attempt by Nassir to persuade MPs to influence their MCAs to slow down the push against Mwamwiri.
But this was not to be, and Khatri has seemingly gained the upper hand in this power tussle.
Instant analysis
The removal of Likoni MCA Athman Mwamwiri as Mombasa county assembly majority leader exposes deep political rifts between Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and speaker Aharub Khatri. This power struggle reflects broader factional battles within ODM at the county level, with MCAs split along loyalties. Mwamwiri’s ouster over his opposition to the Ward Equitable Development Act signals tensions over resource allocation and grassroots development. The elevation of Priscilla Mumba, a Khatri ally and a rare female majority leader, highlights shifting political alliances and growing calls for inclusive leadership. With more changes expected ahead of 2027, Mombasa’s political landscape remains volatile and unpredictable.
