Former Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo declares 2027 Mombasa governor bid
By Kenneth Mwenda, August 17, 2025Former Member of Parliament for Kisauni, Ali Menza Mbogo, has formally announced his candidacy for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
“Nataka niwaambie, leo tumekuja hapa rasmi, yaliotupata mwaka elfu mbili ishirini na mbili hayatatupata tena. Hilo nataka niwaakikishie,” Mbogo said during his declaration, on Sunday, August 17, 2025
Translation: I want to tell you, today we are here officially, what happened to us in the year two-thousand and twenty-two will not happen again. That much I want to assure you.
Mbogo went on to hint at the political party or coalition he plans to use as his ticket to the governorship. While he did not disclose the name, he assured his supporters that the structure is already in place and would be revealed at the right time:
“Gari tutakalo litumia kuleta ugavana wa Mombasa, gari liko tayari. Lakini iko siku yake tutakuja kuwatangazia rasmi. Lakini nawaambia safari hii litoke huku lianguke huku.”
Translation: The vehicle we will use to bring the governorship of Mombasa, the vehicle is ready. But there is a day when we will formally announce it. But I tell you, this time let it come out here and fall here.
Mbogo also promised his supporters that he would not repeat what happened in 2022, when his name was missing from the ballot. He stressed that this time he will be firmly in the race and that no rival will dominate in his Kisauni stronghold.
“Jina la Ali Menza Mbogo litakuwa debeni, watake wasitake… Lakini safari hii ata ile elfu ishirini walipata, hakuna kitu wataokota ndani ya kisauni.”
Translation: The name of Ali Menza Mbogo will be on the ballot, whether they want it or not… But this time even that twenty-thousand they got, they will not pick up anything inside Kisauni.
Lessons from missing
Mbogo reflected on the 2022 elections, saying that his absence from the ballot had cost him and his allies crucial support in Kisauni. He reminded the crowd of how many votes were lost because his name was missing and warned that the situation will be very different in 2027:
“Mwaka elfu mbili ishirini na mbili, huyu mtoto wa makochini, watu wa kisauni walimkataa, alipata kura elfu ishirini pekee katika kura laki moja na elfu hamsini. Yule mwingine pia wa kutoka kule taon, naye akapata elfu ishirini. Kura laki moja na elfu kumi hazikupiga ndani ya kisauni. Kwa sababu gani mnajua; kwa sababu jina la Ali Menza Mbogo halikuwa debeni. Lakini safari hii ata ile elfu ishirini walipata, hakuna kitu wataokota ndani ya kisauni.”
Translation: In the year two-thousand and twenty-two, this son …, the people of Kisauni rejected him, he only got twenty thousand votes out of one hundred and fifty thousand. Another one from the town also got twenty thousand. One hundred and ten thousand votes did not turn out inside Kisauni. Do you know why; because the name of Ali Menza Mbogo was not on the ballot. But this time even that twenty-thousand they got, they will not collect anything inside Kisauni.
In that 2022 gubernatorial race, the main contenders were Nassir, Hassan Omar of UDA, and Hezron Awiti Bollo, among others. Nassir emerged victorious, Omar followed, while Awiti Bollo garnered a much smaller share.