Mombasa UDA Supporters Rally Behind Hassan Omar, Reject Mt. Kenya Resignation Demands

A section of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) supporters from Mombasa County publicly rallied behind Hassan Omar UDA Secretary General on Wednesday, pushing back against calls from Mt. Kenya politicians demanding his resignation over remarks they allege profiled the Kikuyu community.

The supporters, who gathered at Uhuru Gardens in Mombasa, insisted that Omar’s words had been deliberately taken out of context and that no disciplinary action was warranted.

Supporters Say Omar Was Misquoted

Speaking to the press, Samuel Obadiah, said the Secretary General’s remarks had been misrepresented by those with political interests.

“Senator Hassan Omar never incited or used hate speech against any particular community,” Obadiah said. “He spoke against land grabbing, an issue that has afflicted coastal people since independence. It is sad to see certain leaders demanding his resignation for words taken out of context.”

Talaal Abdalla Karama, Chairperson of Mombasa Ward Chairpersons in UDA, expressed surprise at the speed with which some leaders had moved to use the incident as grounds for ouster.

“We are astonished by the pace at which some leaders have utilised this incident to call for the removal of the SG, rather than encourage dialogue through party organs,” Karama said.

He stressed that Hassan Omar UDA Secretary General’s remarks targeted individuals involved in land grabbing not any specific ethnic community, and called on leaders from Mt. Kenya and other regions to establish the facts before demanding anyone’s removal.

“UDA is a national party that unites all Kenyans, not a party of a certain region. We don’t want to see hate or propaganda being spewed,” Karama added, urging all grievances be resolved through established party structures rather than public ultimatums.

Coastal Land Injustice at the Centre of Dispute

Mombasa-based business leader Mutungwa Wambua framed the controversy within the broader context of historical land injustices at the coast, arguing that raising the issue should not be criminalised.

“Speaking about it isn’t a crime,” he said. “We strongly oppose any attempt to silence Senator Hassan Omar and others for starting a discussion on historic land injustices.”

Wambua was unequivocal about the Secretary General’s future: “There is nowhere he is going, he shall remain Secretary General.”

Human rights activist Farida Rashid urged restraint and warned against mischaracterizing Omar’s position. “As a region, we are peace-loving and welcoming to all ethnicities. Let people not put words in his mouth. We shall not accept threats calling for his removal,” she said.

Coastal Land Injustice at the Centre of Dispute

The press conference came amid sustained pressure on Hassan Omar UDA Secretary General from party politicians in the Mt. Kenya region, who had issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding his resignation.

Among those calling for his ouster were Laikipia Women Representative Anne Kagiri, Thika Town MP Alice Nganga, and Kiambaa MP John Kawanjiku.

The MPs described Omar’s remarks as an existential threat to UDA’s support base in the region ahead of the 2027 general elections, and said an apology alone was insufficient.