Governor Nassir wants Mombasa included in President Ruto's new Cabinet

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has called on President William Ruto to consider the county during the ongoing reconstitution of his Cabinet.

Citing the perceived political significance of the region as the heartbeat of the Coast, the Governor explained that the county has several qualified individuals capable of serving at all levels of government.

He demanded the region to be included in the remaining list of Cabinet Secretary nominees, this after the President on Friday unveiled the first batch that is set to be vetted for various dockets.

“The Cabinet was vetted by Kenyans and they all agreed that they were not suitable. Ile baraza la mawaziri hawafai. Safari hii, wale mawaziri ambao wamebaki, tunataka mtoto wa Mombasa pia awe katika hio baraza,” he said.

“Ata kama sisi sio shareholders, we need our own from this region; you have tried in all other regions and you have told us that they have failed and Kenyans do not want them.”

In a move that many analysts view as an endorsement of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party Leader Hassan Joho, the Governor argued that “Mombasa deserves a seat at the highest decision-making table in the country.”

The county boss stated that he would not sit pretty as his region is left out in the top leadership, in spite of it being considered an opposition backyard.

“We don’t want you to tell us that you will try, we want a son of this region to be in the Cabinet. We also want a seat at the table so that when issues are being discussed, a person from Mombasa will speak for us. Kama ni mambo ya Bandari, Pipeline or Blue Economy, mtu wetu ataweza kutuzungumzia,” he noted.

Nassir was speaking during a tour of Changamwe sub-county in Mombasa where he inspected ongoing construction works at Bomu Stadium in Port Reitz Ward.

His remarks come amidst an ongoing public uproar as Kenyans await the President to name the remaining Cabinet nominees.

Following the release of the first list of 11 nominees, Kenyans faulted the President for re-appointing six CSs who were fired early this month.

They are Prof. Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Alice Wahome (Lands), Soipan Tuiya (Environment), Davis Chirchir (Transport), Aden Duale (Defence), and Rebecca Miano as Attorney General.

Those making their first appearance include; Dr. Debra Mulonga Barasa (Health), Julius Migos Ogamba (Education), Dr. Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture and Livestock Development), Eric Muriithi Muuga (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation), and Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u (Information, Communication and the Digital Economy).