Police Lob Teargas as UDA Delegates Clash in Mombasa Meeting

Police on Saturday had to lob teargas to disperse supporters of Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and EALA MP Hassan Omar when they clashed at a UDA Mombasa delegates meeting at the Government Training Institute (GTI) Mombasa.

The conference, which was scheduled to kick off at 10 am, is yet to commence as a deadlock ensued between supporters of the two UDA politicians. UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala who is also attending the gathering had to leave until the situation mellows out. Ali and Omar, both allies of President William Ruto, have been in a dispute for weeks now.

At a separate function last week, the two leaders were seeking bragging rights over the outfit's performance in the August 9 General Election. The 2022 polls saw President William Ruto garner 44 per cent of the regional votes in the presidential race. 

At the inauguration and empowerment of the Mombasa Links Limited, a business association of former UDA candidates from Mombasa last Saturday, Omar blamed Ali for obstructing his attempts to help the people of Mombasa. He lashed at the Nyali MP, challenging him to organize his own empowerment programs and abandon the jealousy. In a rejoinder, Ali alleged that the funds allocated for the empowerment programs were actually intended for the 2022 campaigns that Omar stashed causing the ruling party to lose in Mombasa. 

“There are people walking around making noise as they dish out money we gave them during campaigns. Instead of using the money for campaigns, they hid it. Today they are coming out using the money to brainwash our children,” said Ali.