Hezron Awiti pledges to tackle land problems in Mombasa

Nyali MP Hezron Awiti has vowed to solve land issues by revoking illegally acquired title deeds when elected governor of Mombasa County.

The legislator also promised to form an all-inclusive government and blamed incumbent Hassan Joho’s administration for favouritism in procurement and employment, among others.

Mr Awiti maintained that he will pursue his desire to be the next governor on a Wiper Democratic Movement ticket.

Mr Awiti, who is being rivalled by Senator Hassan Omar for the party's ticket, is also Wiper's treasurer.

"I want to dismiss these rumours going round that I will be Hassan Omar's running mate. I will not be anybody’s deputy and will be in the ballot box," he said.

Speaking at the late Karisa Maitha homestead at Majaoni where he was endorsed by the Mijikenda and Kamba communities for the governor seat, Mr Awiti said the National Super Alliance (Nasa) will not conduct joint nomination for its candidates, insisting that ODM and Wiper will conduct theirs separately.

The Mijikenda community spokesman Ibrahim Kai said they had reached an agreement with Mr Awiti that he will be a one-term governor after which he will hand over to a Mijikenda.

"Part of our agreement is that Mr Awiti serves one term and then leaves the seat to us. He will be required to nominate a Mijikenda as a running mate and also his government to have the Speaker and Majority Leader from our community," Mr Kai said.

Mr Geoffrey Clement Jefwa, an elder, endorsed the agreement, which will be formalised later.

Representing the Kamba community, Mr Daniel Mwange, who will vie for the Changamwe parliamentary seat, said the community had also endorsed Mr Awiti to vie for the top seat.