The race to replace Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali is gaining momentum with the battle ground already getting crowded. The latest entry is media practitioner Elkana Jacobs who served as the official Director of Communications to former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
He is set to join seven other aspirants who have already declared interest in the second biggest constituency in Mombasa County.
The incumbent Mohammed Ali has declared interest to oust Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir in the 2027 elections.
Others who have declared interest in the Nyali seat include businessman Abdikadir Dekow, political strategist Abdulswamad and former Mkomani MCA hopeful Gladys Chepkorir,all targeting the UDA ticket.
Raila Odinga’s ODM is expected to yet again field its die hard supporter Said ‘Saido’ Abdalla, who will battle for the party ticket with former political adviser in the office of the Prime Minister Maj (rtd) Idris Abdirahman and Kadzandani MCA Fatma Kushe.
Philanthropist Alfayo Nelson has also declared his interest with the contest already gaining momentum on the ground.
Most of the candidates are targeting the ODM, UDA and DCP’s party tickets in the constituency whose voting patterns can sometimes be unpredictable.
Elkana will be part of the new entrants including Dekow and Alfayo as they plot to rise against the difficult political terrain.
He boasts of a Masters Degree in Criminology and a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication-having worked as a Photojournalist with the Star Newspaper before being poached by Mike Sonko.
While at Nairobi City County, he ended up serving former Speaker Benson Mutura who temporarily took over as the acting Governor following Sonko’s impeachment. He also served Governor Ann Kananu who took over officially as the third Governor.
His practice as a journalist focused on crime reporting at the Coast where he gained public fame after unearthing the murder of a Swiss couple in Mombasa’s Kiembeni area.
Together with Abdulswamad Ali, they are the two media practitioners eyeing the seat and will certainly be battling opponents they have previously covered or engaged in various capacities.
Abdulswamad for instance has been working as a communication strategist for former Suleiman Shahbal and now Hassan Omar the UDA Secretary General.
The seat was first won by Wiper Party’s Hezron Awiti in 2013 in a contest that attracted 15 candidates before he was ousted by the incumbent in 2017.
The 2027 contest is shaping up to be a battle between upcoming and vibrant youthful leaders with seasoned participants.
Kadzandani MCA Fatma Kushe for instance has been active in politics since 2013 when she was nominated by ODM before getting elected for the first time in 2022.
She is also the second woman to show interest in the seat as the cosmopolitan constituency prepares for a new MP.
However,according to Elkana,the 2027 elections will be decided by ideology and not the period one has been in politics.
“We are dealing with an enlightened voting base that is yearning for change and this is part of the reason I am getting into the ring to be part of the drive and change,” he said.
He is a staunch believer in youth entrepreneurship, gender equality and access to education to all people.
He joins a list of many other journalists who are eying political seats including Citizen TVs Hassan Lulu who has declared interest in the Mvita seat.
