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Hassan Omar: One phone call wooed me to Jubilee


Former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar has revealed how a telephone call from Deputy President William Ruto convinced him to dump the opposition’s National Super Alliance Coalition (Nasa).

Omar, once considered a critical cog within the Nasa think tank, resigned as Wiper party’s secretary general just days after suffering a humiliating defeat to Ali Hassan Joho in the Mombasa gubernatorial race during the August 8 general election.

He has since jumped ship to the ruling Jubilee Party, despite once vowing never to work with President Uhuru Kenyatta in a television interview.

Omar has now revealed that he was forced to ditch Nasa after the coalition’s principals – including Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka – dumped him after he lost to Joho.

RUTO’S PHONE CALL

While addressing Mombasa residents at a public rally attended by President Kenyatta and his deputy Ruto on Sunday, Omar also accused Mr Odinga of condoning Joho’s misrule in Mombasa County, including imposing high taxes on low-scale traders traders at the Kongowea market.

“After my loss to Joho in August (in the gubernatorial race), no Nasa principal called me to check on me or even to encourage me,” Omar said.

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“But on August 11 (three days after the elections), the DP (Ruto) called me. He encouraged me to take positives from the loss. He made me think about who my true friends are. Raila will always come here and look away as high taxes are imposed on Mombasa people. When usinessmen struggle to get permits, he never talks about it,” Omar further said.

“I have petitioned the case and I’m certain of winning. There will be a repeat election in Mombasa as well and I am ready to work with (Jubilee candidate) Suleiman Shabbal in ensuring that we win the seat during the by-election.”