Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has said he is not ready to pursue the Deputy President position, despite the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party expressing interest in the seat.
Nassir stated that while ODM’s position is to seek the Deputy President slot, he personally feels the time is not right for him to take up the country’s second-highest executive office.
“The position of ODM is that we are after the DP position. I feel the time is not right for me to be the DP of this country,” Nassir said.
The governor described leadership as a calling, saying his political journey had unfolded in ways he had not anticipated.
“Leadership is a calling. I never knew I was going to be an MP; I got elected to be the governor of Mombasa against all odds,” he stated.
Nassir pointed to his victory in the Mombasa gubernatorial race as evidence that political success does not necessarily depend on wealth, popularity or the ability to dominate political discourse.
He recalled facing opponents whom he described as louder, wealthier and more outspoken, including individuals who directed insults at him during the contest.
“I had people who were louder than me, people who abused me, people who were richer than me, vied against me, and guess what? I won,” he said.
His remarks come amid political discussions over ODM’s ambitions for the Deputy President position, with the party seeking a place in the country’s top executive leadership.
