Mohammed Ali Labelled a ‘Political Tourist’ as Rift in UDA Deepens
A day after Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali disclosed his intention to exit the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, Mombasa County UDA Secretary General, Mutisya Wambua, downplayed the impact of his departure.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, April 16, in Mombasa, Wambua asserted that the party would not oppose Ali’s decision to leave. However, he emphasized that UDA remains open to working with the MP should he choose to stay.
Wambua criticized the MP’s wavering political stance, branding him a “political tourist.” He urged Ali to make a quiet exit if he no longer wished to align with the party, while cautioning him against antagonizing UDA’s National Secretary General, Hassan Omar.
“This person is a political tourist. Tomorrow you might hear him planning to run in Isiolo, then Nairobi, and next in Mombasa,” said Wambua. “We are ready to work with him if he stays. But if he chooses a different path, he should do so silently and allow the Secretary General to perform his duties.”
Party members echoed the sentiment, dismissing fears that Ali’s move could trigger a broader defection. “I want to assure everyone—he will not leave with others,” one member stated.
The controversy follows remarks made by Ali during an interview on Tuesday, April 15. He claimed that the party’s Secretary General was plotting to deny him the UDA ticket in the 2027 general elections.
Ali, elected under the UDA banner in 2022, expressed readiness to join another party or contest as an independent candidate. He maintained that he is unshaken by political setbacks.
“We have many options. I came in as an independent in my first term, then under UDA for my second. Nothing will stop us from moving forward,” Ali affirmed.
“If someone believes the party is their personal property, we will explore other options—there are other parties and independent paths,” he added.
Ali’s statement comes amid growing tensions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition. On Tuesday, April 8, the Farmers Party, through its former leader Irungu Nyakera, announced its intention to withdraw from the coalition.
Nyakera accused the coalition’s leadership of breaching both the coalition agreement and the Constitution.
“While the Farmers Party entered into a coalition agreement in good faith on March 23, 2022, it is with deep regret that we observe a pattern of dishonesty, political infidelity, and disregard for both the Constitution and the spirit of our agreement,” he said.
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Mohammed Ali Labelled a ‘Political Tourist’ as Rift in UDA Deepens
