MOMBASA, Kenya—A section of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders in Mombasa County has rallied behind the party’s Secretary-General Hassan Omar Hassan amid mounting criticism over remarks he allegedly made during a recent title deed issuance ceremony presided over by President William Ruto in Mombasa.
The leaders, led by Said Twaha, dismissed accusations that Omar’s comments were tribal in nature, insisting that he was addressing longstanding land injustices and historical grievances affecting coastal communities.
Speaking during a press briefing in Mvita on Saturday, the leaders argued that the remarks had been taken out of context by political opponents and individuals seeking to create divisions within the ruling party.
According to the leaders, Hassan Omar’s message focused on the need to resolve historical land ownership disputes and return land to legitimate owners rather than advancing ethnic interests.
“We have lived together peacefully in Mombasa for generations. Our communities are united through business, culture and family ties, and there is no room for tribal politics,” one youth leader said.
The defence comes at a time when Omar is facing growing criticism from a section of political leaders, particularly from the Mount Kenya region, over the alleged remarks.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua are among leaders who have publicly criticised the sentiments attributed to Omar, warning against the use of ethnic narratives in addressing sensitive issues such as land ownership.
The controversy has also exposed growing tensions within the ruling UDA party, with some leaders from Central Kenya reportedly demanding disciplinary action against the Secretary-General. Some have called on President Ruto, who is also the party leader, to remove Omar from his position, arguing that the alleged remarks undermine national cohesion and threaten the party’s support base in the region.
The leaders have warned that failure to address the matter could deepen divisions within the party, with some threatening to reconsider their future in UDA if their concerns are ignored.
However, Omar’s defenders in Mombasa have rejected the calls, describing them as politically motivated and aimed at weakening both the Secretary-General and the party’s influence at the Coast.
Mombasa Somali Youth Leader Suleiman Hassan urged President Ruto to stand by Omar, saying the controversy should not be used to punish leaders who speak about historical injustices affecting their communities.
He argued that the debate should focus on finding lasting solutions to land disputes rather than turning the issue into an ethnic or political contest.
Francis Maina echoed the sentiments, noting that Mombasa remains one of Kenya’s most diverse and integrated counties, where residents from different communities coexist peacefully through intermarriage, trade and shared social networks.
As political reactions continue to emerge from different parts of the country, the controversy has evolved into a broader debate about land rights, national cohesion and the delicate balance political leaders must maintain when addressing historical grievances.
The unfolding dispute now places President Ruto in a difficult position as he seeks to contain growing tensions within his party while preserving support in both the Coast and Mount Kenya regions ahead of the country’s next political cycle.
