Sikuvaa Shati Zao Pris! Mohammed Ali Rushes To Defend Himself After Endorsing Jubilee In Nyali

Piece by: Grace Kerongo
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Mohammed Ali is at pains to explain to his constituents why he took the podium in Nyali during President Uhuru Kenyatta's campaign.

Some felt like he had joined Jubilee yet he had been voted in as an independent candidate away from the politics of being in a big political party.

"Today, President Uhuru Kenyatta visited my constituency as part of the Jubilee Party’s electoral campaign program. Given the political tension in the country right now, my decision to attend his rally as MP for Nyali was a difficult one to make, but I chose to attend it, and give the office of the President its due respect," Mohammed Ali defended himself in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

Also, young in the field of politics as I may be, I chose to respect the event and attend because I wanted to deliver a message. I chose to attend precisely because of the point we are at in this country today. Both political formations, NASA and JUBILEE have, through their actions, removed any possibility for negotiation on the best way forward for our country. We are close to the edge, and the ramping up of temperatures makes our collective descent off the cliff seem inevitable. It is not. It is not because even in our political competition, what should be at the heart of us is the welfare of our people. In 2007 I reported on these very streets of Nyali, after a political contest much like this one. I saw violence that never want to be repeated.

Mohammed Ali added, "So I welcomed the President to my constituency to remind him of that, just as I will remind the Former Prime Minister should I get the opportunity to do so. The lives of our people, indeed, the soul of this country, is by far greater importance that whatever enmity the two men, and their parties seem to have for one another. I hope that perhaps, in welcoming a man, and a party whose policies I personally disagree with, shows the public that politics is important, but that their lives are more important. As an Independent Member of Parliament, my responsibility is FIRST and FOREMOST to the people of Nyali, who elected me. The people of this constituency need jobs, better healthcare and education for their children, and a hope for the future. As I did on the campaign trail, I say that I will work with all people whose core interest is to develop Nyali, and make this constituency the envy of this county."