The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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A dispute has erupted between Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and Mombasa county officials after several billboards promoting his voter registration campaign were taken down.
Residents woke up on Tuesday to find empty billboard spaces in areas where Ali’s campaign messages had previously been displayed, including Buxton, Likoni Ferry and Kibarani.
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Ali accused the county government of being behind the removal, claiming the billboards had been legally installed through licensed advertising firms but were pulled down following threats and intimidation directed at the vendors.
He further alleged that operators of digital screens across the county had also been warned against airing an animated version of the same message, which encourages youth to register as voters.
However, county officials denied any involvement, instead accusing the MP of orchestrating the incident to gain public sympathy and tarnish the image of the county administration led by Governor Abdulswamad Nassir.
A senior county official suggested that Ali was attempting to portray himself as a victim to gain political mileage as competition intensifies.
County executive for Lands and Urban Planning Mohamed “Amadoh” Hussein maintained that the county only licenses advertising firms and does not control the content they display, questioning why the MP did not engage the county earlier.
He also accused Ali of using the billboards for self-promotion rather than purely civic messaging, dismissing his claims as political theatrics.
Ali, however, defended the content, saying it was a non-partisan civic message encouraging voter registration and promoting good governance.
He termed the removal an abuse of power and a violation of freedom of expression, arguing that it undermines voter awareness efforts in the region.
The MP also called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to investigate the matter and urged Mombasa residents to remain vigilant, saying the issue goes beyond politics and touches on citizens’ right to choose their leaders freely.
