MOMBASA, Kenya—Cushite and pastoralist community leaders in Mombasa have declared support for President William Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid while stepping up efforts to secure greater political representation in the county.
The leaders said they were mobilising their communities ahead of the 2027 General Election, with voter registration and acquisition of national identification documents forming part of their immediate priorities.
Cushite community chairman Ali Sheikh said the community was supporting Ruto’s re-election bid because of what he described as improvements in access to government services, particularly identification documents and passports.
Sheikh also cited infrastructure projects initiated by the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying the community wanted continued government attention to areas inhabited by Arid and Semi-Arid Lands communities.
But beyond the presidential contest, the leaders are seeking to translate their mobilisation into greater representation in Mombasa County.
Sheikh said the community was preparing to field at least three candidates for Member of County Assembly positions in the 2027 elections.
“We are also rallying behind our communities in Mombasa so that we can have our community members in the county government as leaders and have our affairs represented,” Sheikh said.
Cushite deputy chairperson Khadija Mohamed Halakhe said greater representation at both county and national levels was necessary to address issues affecting the community.
Halakhe said limited representation had made it difficult for the community to advance some of its concerns and called for negotiations over political nominations.
“We want to see how we can address issues affecting us in Mombasa County as a community. We have been having problems because we do not have representatives in the County Assembly and at the national level,” she said.
Former Changamwe MP aspirant and local political leader Abdi Daib urged Cushite voters living in Mombasa to retain their voter registration in the county, while cautioning against efforts to move voters to other constituencies.
Daib said political participation would give the community greater opportunity to articulate its interests, but urged voters to independently decide where to exercise their democratic rights.
Burji community chairman Jilo Tora called for increased civic education at the grassroots, particularly to help eligible young people acquire identification documents and register as voters.
The mobilisation comes as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission continues preparations for the 2027 General Election. The commission says eligible Kenyans can register using a national identity card or valid passport.
The leaders are also expected to meet Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Sunday at Serani Sports Ground in Mombasa to discuss political, social and development concerns affecting Cushite communities.
The meeting comes amid wider efforts by Cushite leaders in Mombasa to coordinate their political voice and pursue greater representation ahead of the 2027 elections.
