Police in Mombasa County are investigating a Friday morning incident, where Senator Hassan Omar’s campaign truck was vandalized by unknown people.
The senator, who is seeking to oust Governor Ali Joho from the Mombasa governor seat in the August 8 polls on a Wiper Party ticket, said the 3:00 am incident was carried out by unidentified group of youth, who hurled stones at his campaign truck parked outside his Renaissance Centre offices in Kizingo.
The former Kenya National Human Rights Commission Chairman said that the youth went ahead to throw petrol bombs inside the truck, although they didn’t explode.
“The petrol bombs, however, did not explode,” he said.
Omar said he suspects his rival in the race orchestrated the attack, adding that he will not be scared by any form of intimidation.
“This attack was meant to prompt me into chickening out from the race for Mombasa governor. I am telling those people behind the attacks that their stunts are too small to scare me. I will continue campaigning for the governor’s seat, and I am confident I will clinch it come August 8,” said Hassan Omar.
Omar claimed that Governor Hassan Joho’s family was behind attack, terming the incident as “extreme hooliganism by people who have been acclimatized to intimidate people in this county” after sensing defeat.
Mombasa County director of communication Richard Chacha however, dismissed the claims by Omar, saying that they were malicious.
“We believe in peaceful campaigns. We respect our opponents and they should give the respect back. He knows that he does not make good news without mentioning governor Joho’s name,” said Chacha.
Chacha said that Joho “would not stoop too low by engaging to some junior opponent”.
Omar will lock horns with Joho (ODM), Suleiman Shahbal (Jubilee) and Hezron Awiti (Vibrant Democratic Party).
