Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali, popularly known as Moha Jicho Pevu, has questioned the awarding of a Ksh17 billion waste management tender in Mombasa, saying the project costs more than the county receives annually from the national government.

Speaking during a political rally in Mombasa on Saturday, April 25, 2026, Mohammed Ali said the county gets about Ksh16.5 billion each year to run all its services, making it difficult to justify a single waste collection deal worth Ksh17 billion.

“Mombasa County inapata shillingi billioni kumi na sita nukta tano ya kuweza kusukuma hii county kwa mwaka. Wewe na akili yako timamu, unaenda kupeana tender ya 17 billion,” Mohammed Ali told supporters.

He accused a senior county official of approving an overpriced contract while residents continue to face extra charges and poor service delivery.

“Alafu mnaanza kukata shillingi mia tano kwa wananchi,” he said.

Tender already under scrutiny

The waste management deal has previously attracted criticism from civil society groups, which questioned the procurement process and demanded documents on how the contract was awarded.

The civil society groups sought details on the shortlisted bidders, evaluation criteria, quoted amounts, and whether the project had been tabled before the assembly as required by law.

The tender covers the design, construction, financing, operation, and transfer of a waste-to-energy processing plant in Mwakirunge.

Mohammed Ali said the public deserves answers on how such a costly project was approved when the county still faces basic service challenges.

“Huyu naye amepeana tenda ya kuzoa taka ya shilingi billioni kumi na saba,” he said.

He also claimed that the contract had been handed to a recently formed company and promised to challenge the matter in court.

“Na hiyo tender amepatia kampuni moja ya jana. Hiyo kampuni, iko na mtoto wa jamaa fulani hapa. Tunamaliza kwenda kortini na yeye, alafu tukuje kwa wananchi tuwaambie ni nini wanafanya,” he said.

Wider county concerns

Mohamed Ali linked the tender issue to broader governance concerns in Mombasa, saying key public institutions are under pressure while major contracts continue to be issued.

Earlier this year, he cited audit concerns touching on county agencies, including losses in the water sector and financial accountability questions in health services.

He also accused county leaders of failing to prioritise environmental management, saying untreated sewage continues to be discharged into the Indian Ocean.

“In this day and age, Mombasa still directs raw sewage into the Indian Ocean with no functioning treatment plant,” he said in an earlier statement.

During the same rally, Mohammed Ali also raised concerns over employment opportunities, claiming local youth are being left out of available jobs.

“Juzi walikuwa wanaandika vijana hapa kwa bandari. Kwa vijana mia 629, watoto wetu wa Mombasa hata hawafiki 100. Kazi zote zimepeanwa nje,” he said.

He argued that county leadership should focus on creating opportunities for residents instead of engaging in costly deals.

Leadership and inclusion

Mohammed Ali further called for inclusive politics in the county, saying leadership positions should be open to all communities living in Mombasa.

“Hii Mombasa sio mali ya familia moja,” he said.

He added:

“Mimi nauliza, kwani Mgiriama hawezi kuwa gavana? Mimi nauliza, Mjaluo hawezi kuwa gavana? Mmaasai hawezi kuwa spika wa bunge. Hii kabila ingine haiwezi kupewa nafasi? Safari hii tuseme WANTAM. Na mimi nikiongea naambiwa ni mkabila. Kama mimi ni mkabila, kabila yangu ni moja. Kabila yangu ni Kenya.”

His remarks come as political activity begins to build ahead of the 2027 General Election, where Mombasa is expected to be one of the key battleground counties.

During the same rally, they also made a key political announcement involving Mombasa politics, where Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka confirmed that Nyali MP Mohammed Ali, also known as Jicho Pevu, would contest the Mombasa governor seat on a Wiper ticket in 2027.