Nyali MP decries removal of voter awareness billboards

Nyali Member of Parliament Mohamed Ali has condemned the removal of three voter awareness billboards in Mombasa, terming the action as suppression of civic space and freedom of expression.

The MP accused the Mombasa County Government of orchestrating the forcible pulling down of the billboards that carried messages encouraging voter registration.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mohamed Ali said the billboards, which were lawfully procured through Magnate Ventures and other licensed advertising vendors, were removed on the night of April 6, 2026, after operators faced intimidation and threats.

The affected billboards were located in Buxton, Ferry, and Kibarani areas within Mombasa County.

The message on the billboards read: “Utawala bora sio zawadi. Ni haki yako. Chukua kura. Tujikomboe.” This translates to: “Good governance is not a gift. It is your right. Register to vote. Liberate ourselves.”

Mohamed Ali maintained that the message was purely civic and non-partisan, aimed at encouraging residents to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He revealed that similar threats had also been issued to operators of digital screens across the county, warning them against airing an animated version of the same message.

The MP pointed to pressure allegedly coming from within the Mombasa County Government led by Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir.

“The pulling down of billboards with such civic messaging is an outright abuse of power and a suppression of civic space,” Mohamed Ali said.

He argued that the action violated Article 33 of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees freedom of expression, especially on matters of public interest.

The Nyali MP further stated that the move infringed on the rights of private businesses, as advertising vendors were being intimidated for engaging in legitimate commercial activities.

He said the real reason behind the removal was the content of the message, which reminded residents that public leadership is a right and not a favour, and that leaders must be held accountable.

Mohamed Ali called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to urgently investigate the incident and intervene to protect voter education efforts.

He urged Mombasa residents to remain vigilant, emphasising that the matter goes beyond individual political interests and touches on the fundamental right of citizens to freely choose their leaders.