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Former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko will kick off his campaigns for Mombasa governorship with a rally at the historic Tononoka grounds on Saturday.

Sources familiar with the plans hinted that Sonko would be accompanied by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and his running mate, Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo, adding a new dimension to the race to succeed Governor Hassan Joho.

Chairman of the Wiper Caucus, Mombasa chapter Sheikh Omar Twaha said the party is determined to revolutionise leadership in the coastal county. He asked other contenders to brace for a political showdown like no other.

“We are determined to take over Mombasa and those who wrote us off should prepare for a shocker of the century. This coming weekend, Team Sonko will turn Mombasa upside down. Already, a fleet of campaign vehicles are ready. There will be stopovers and multiple rallies,” Twaha told ‘People Daily’.

Sonko to the rescue

He said Sonko wants to “rescue the county from a multitude of crisis” wrought by the current regime.

“The crisis include garbage menace and poor drainage, as confirmed by rainfall and flooding in the past few days.  Just a little downpour and Mombasa is flooded. This is what we seek to solve through Sonko and Mbogo’s leadership. Secondly, we want to end the litany of health workers’ strikes and open discrimination of traders in Mombasa,” he said.

Sonko’s handlers say they have already mapped out parts of Mombasa where they are set to initiate clean-up exercises.

The entry of the former Nairobi governor into Mombasa gubernatorial race has continued to spark debate and resistance.

Rivals in Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition argue that Sonko is unfit to serve Mombasa.

During the annual Eid Baraza in Mombasa on Tuesday, various leaders termed the entry of Sonko into the race as an insult to voters.

Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki asked Kalonzo to withdraw the former Nairobi governor from the race.

“We have leaders who have been tested. We don’t want newcomers,” said Faki.

Former Lands Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Gideon Mung’aro criticised the “importation” of Sonko to Mombasa politics, saying the region is sealed and has no room for intruders.

Jomvu MP Badi Twalib slammed Wiper leader Musyoka for imposing Sonko on Mombasa residents.