UDA Mombasa gubernatorial candidate Hassan Omar says he is confident that he will clinch victory in the polls.
Speaking to the media on Monday, August 29 in Mombasa, Omar said that he was only waiting to give an acceptance speech after his victory.
“The mood in Mombasa is that we are winning. I only have an acceptance speech, not a concession speech,” Omar stated.
The former Mombasa senator, however, decried low voter turnout in Mombasa, maintaining that it was one of the characteristics of mini-polls.
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He said he hoped the voter turnout will be better as the exercise continued across Coastal county.
“The voter turnout so far is quite low. It is the characteristic of by-elections. We have experienced a voter turnout of about 30 to 35 percent. We are about halfway in most polling stations in Mombasa. I’m hoping by the afternoon the turnout will improve,” Omar stated.
He also alleged incidents of voter bribery by his opponents, asking the police to manage the situation.
Omar is facing stiff competition from former Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, who is running for the seat on an ODM ticket.
Speaking on Monday morning after casting his vote, Nassir also decried low voter turnout, maintaining that polling stations opened early and there will be no extension of polling time.
"The voter turnout is extremely low. This polling station so far has had less than 10 per cent turnout. We need voters to come out and vote," Nassir stated.
The gubernatorial election in Mombasa had been suspended due to a mix-up in the details contained on the ballot papers.
