Sonko clashes with Abdulswamad Nassir, Joho intervenes

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Mvita MP Abdulswammad Nassir. [File, Standard]

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Mvita MP Abdulswammad Nassir have clashed at MaryCliff polling station.

This was after the duo ran into each other while traversing different polling stations in the county.

The incumbent Governor of Mombasa Hassan Joho and his preferred successor (Swammad) had visited the polling center to inspect the ongoing voting process.

Shortly after, Sonko walked in with his supporters and was barred from accessing the polling center.

According to an eye witness, Sonko had gone to the said polling station in the company of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) supporters.

They say their main aim was to monitor the voting process following the arrest of two UDA candidates.

The UDA-allied candidates were arrested for causing chaos in MaryCliff polling station.

A polling officer who sought anonymity has told The Standard that Joho and Nassir got word that Sonko was headed to the polling center to confront IEBC officials on some unestablished allegations.

"When Sonko arrived at the Centre, he found Joho and Nassir at the Centre and upon trying to gain access into the voting room, Nassir blocked him and Sonko held him by the collar tearing his buttons off," said the official.

As a result, the electoral officer said, Joho intervened and walked with Sonko out of the station contrary to earlier reports that the two had exchanged blows.

Earlier on, Sonko had bailed out Mvita MP aspirant Omar Saloo and Member of County Assembly MCA Samir Baloo from Makupa police station.

He was in the Company of UDA governor aspirant Hassan Omar and Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo

Shalo was released on a police cash bail of Sh40,000.

He was arrested at Tudor MerryCliff Poling station alongside Baloo who is vying for Nyali parliamentary seat.

They were arrested for causing chaos at the station.

Together with their agents, the two claimed that IEBC officials were issuing extra ballot papers to ODM voters.

Omar, Sonko, and Mbogo said they will not accept the results from the MerryCliff polling station if the counterfoil papers don't tally with the ballot papers.

"We know how they are stealing the votes, we shall not accept the results if all the counterfoils don't tally with the ballot papers," said M

They however urged their supporters to maintain peace and calm.

At the time of publishing this article, GSU officers had been deployed to the polling center to quell supporters of rival parties.