ODM's Abdulswamad Sharrif Declared Mombasa Governor-Elect

Abdulswamad Nassir of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is the winner of the Mombasa gubernatorial race.

Nassir beat United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Hassan Omar Hassan by getting 119,083 votes against Omar's 98,180 votes, according to provisional results from tallying of the six constituencies.

He was elected alongside his running mate, Francis Thoya and will take over from Hassan Joho, who has held the top county job since 2013.

Former Nairobi governor, Mike Sonko, had earlier congratulated Nassir for his victory and thanked his supporters who had voted for Omar in the gubernatorial elections.

"Congratulations Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir for your win as the second Governor of Mombasa we live to fight another day. I would also like to thank all our supporters for believing in us and voting for our candidate Hassan Omar Sarai, despite the loss let's remain strong and even more united as we shall always be there for every one of you even those who never voted for us.

"I shall as well continue to support you all in my own little capacity and that of my Sonko Rescue team. God bless the great people of Mombasa, God bless Kenya. May peace continue to prevail in our beloved country Kenya. I love you all and have a great day, thank you very much," part of the statement read. 

Sonko had thrown his weight behind Hassan Omar in the race after he joined the Kenya Kwanza coalition under President-elect, William Ruto, days to the August 9 general elections.

Former Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria also congratulated Nassir for his victory and took note of Omar's fight to succeed Joho in the governor's seat.

He also noted that UDA had accepted the results of the polls and urged Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga to do the same with the presidential results.

"Congratulations ODM and Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir. But you will admit that it can never be the same again. Hassan Omar Hassan and UDA got an amazing 44 per cent of the vote.

"Mombasa will be fully liberated in the fullness of time. Now go and tell Baba (Raila) to learn to accept results like we have done," he wrote.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Mombasa County Returning Officer Swalah Yusuf presented Nassir with his certificate at the county tallying centre.

He is the outgoing Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mvita constituency, where he was first elected in 2013.

In the National Assembly, he served in the Departmental Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade as well as Public Investments Committee.

His father, Shariff Nassir, was once a powerful Cabinet Minister in the government of Kenya's second President, the late Daniel Torotich Arap Moi.

A portrait of Mombasa governor-elect, Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir. /FACEBOOK