Mombasa

Self-Proclaimed ‘Acting’ Nyali MP’ AA Exposes Mizani Polls Scam, Slams Gachagua’s Tribal Politics

By Feddy Madebe

In an era where Kenyan politics desperately needs principled voices willing to challenge the status quo, Abdulswamad Ali, popularly known as AA, has emerged as exactly the kind of leader Nyali constituency requires.

His bold self-proclamation as the ‘Incoming Nyali Member of Parliament’ is not mere bravado—it is backed by a track record of strategic brilliance, moral courage, and an unwavering commitment to issue-based politics.

As current MP Mohammed Ali prepares to vacate the seat for a gubernatorial bid, the question facing Nyali’s over 124,253 registered voters is simple: Who possesses the vision, experience, and integrity to represent one of Kenya’s most sophisticated constituencies? The answer increasingly points to Abdulswamad Ali.

A Proven Political Strategist Ready to Lead

Unlike typical political newcomers who stumble into electoral contests with little preparation, AA brings exceptional credentials to his parliamentary ambitions. As a former journalist-turned-businessman who has worked behind the scenes for major political players in Mombasa county, including EALA MPs Suleiman Shahbal and Hassan Omar, Ali possesses rare insights into what makes campaigns succeed and governance work.

His prominence in Hassan Omar’s campaigns since 2022 demonstrates not just political acumen but the ability to deliver results under pressure. While others talk about political strategy, AA has lived it, breathing life into successful campaigns and helping shape policy directions for some of the coast region’s most influential leaders.

This behind-the-scenes experience is precisely what Nyali needs—someone who understands the mechanics of legislation, the art of coalition-building, and the science of constituent service. AA is not learning politics; he has mastered it and is now ready to deploy that mastery directly on behalf of Nyali residents.

According to those who have worked closely with him, Ali has shown exceptional political acumen but had been reluctant to venture into elective politics until now. His decision to finally step forward represents not personal ambition but a response to urgent calls from constituents who recognize that Nyali deserves leadership that combines experience with fresh energy.

Moral Courage: Standing Against Tribal Politics

What truly distinguishes Abdulswamad Ali from the crowded field of Nyali aspirants is his moral courage to confront dangerous political trends, even when doing so means challenging powerful figures. His recent criticism of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s tribal mobilization rhetoric demonstrates the kind of principled leadership Kenya desperately needs.

“Now this is very dangerous rhetoric from Riggy G,” Ali warned in a statement that has resonated across the political spectrum. “For those that don’t understand French, Riggy G is talking pure tribal politics and saying one tribe will take almost all elective positions in Lamu, 2027 because they have the numbers.”

Gachagua’s remarks represent everything wrong with Kenyan politics—the reduction of complex policy questions to crude ethnic arithmetic, the cynical manipulation of community identities for personal gain, and the reckless disregard for national cohesion. While many politicians privately condemn such rhetoric but remain publicly silent out of political calculation, AA spoke out clearly and forcefully.

“Dear Riggy G, as a leader in this country, play politics based on agenda and plans, not purely tribal,” Ali stated. “Some of these rhetorics may turn out to be destructive in the near future.”

This is leadership. This is moral clarity. This is exactly what Nyali constituency—cosmopolitan, diverse, and forward-thinking—requires from its next Member of Parliament.

The Danger of Gachagua’s Ethnic Mobilization Strategy

Rigathi Gachagua’s promotion of tribal politics is not just rhetorically dangerous; it threatens the very fabric of Kenya’s democratic experiment. By openly advocating for ethnic domination of electoral positions based purely on demographic numbers, the former deputy president is reviving the ghost of the politics that led Kenya into the dark days of post-election violence.

Political observers note that Gachagua will likely target to influence elections in the entire Mount Kenya Region, Nakuru, Nairobi, Kajiado, Narok, Lamu and Western regions, using demographic concentrations to secure victories regardless of candidate quality or policy platforms.

The perception of Gachagua as a tribal and divisive leader now risks hurting his national outlook as he joins other opposition figures in the 2027 elections. Yet despite this reputational damage, he continues to double down on ethnic appeals, demonstrating either political desperation or dangerous indifference to national consequences.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently accused Gachagua of viewing every policy issue through a tribal lens, whether discussing education, alcohol regulation, or other national matters —a devastating critique that Gachagua has failed to effectively rebut.

Abdulswamad Ali’s willingness to call out this destructive pattern sets him apart. While acknowledging constitutional rights—”There’s nothing wrong in a Kikuyu being Governor of Lamu, or any other place for that matter”—AA insists on a higher standard: “One should be elected because their support cuts across all tribes, religion or any other barrier and that they resonate with all.”

This is the politics of vision, not division. This is the leadership Nyali deserves.

Exposing the Mizani Polls Scam: AA’s Fight for Truth

Perhaps nowhere has Abdulswamad Ali demonstrated greater analytical sharpness and moral courage than in his devastating critique of the opinion polling industry, particularly the discredited operations of Mizani Africa and similar organizations that masquerade as research institutions while serving as political propaganda outfits.

“Minzani polls have clearly exposed how easily such industries are manipulated,” Ali stated bluntly. “What is presented as public opinion is often engineered through selective sampling, paid narratives, and controlled amplification.”

This is not conspiracy theory—this is documented reality. The Mizani Africa polling operation has become notorious for producing surveys that conveniently align with the interests of those willing to pay for favorable results. Their methodology lacks transparency, their sampling techniques resist scrutiny, and their findings often contradict every other credible measure of public sentiment.

“Numbers are polished to legitimize predetermined outcomes, silence dissent, and manufacture consent,” AA explained. “This is not measurement; it is marketing dressed as research.”

Consider how these manufactured polls operate: A political figure or faction commissions a survey with predetermined conclusions. Pollsters then use carefully selected samples, leading questions, and strategic timing to produce the desired numbers. These fabricated results get released to media outlets desperate for content, creating a false narrative of public opinion that serves the sponsor’s interests.

Following the violent aftermath of elections in 2007, an independent review found that some voters claimed opinion polls were manufactured by partisan pollsters to influence voting behavior —confirming what many Kenyans have long suspected about the industry.

Abdulswamad Ali’s critique goes beyond mere complaint to propose solutions: “Until transparency, methodology, and accountability are enforced, polls will remain instruments of influence rather than truthful reflections of the people’s will in modern political and economic ecosystems today.”

This is serious policy thinking from a serious candidate. While his opponents chase headlines and court ethnic voting blocs, AA is identifying structural problems in Kenya’s democratic infrastructure and proposing reforms to address them.

Why Nyali Needs Abdulswamad Ali

Nyali constituency has traditionally attracted the highest number of hopefuls in general elections as well as the highest number of political greenhorns venturing into politics for the first time. This competitive environment has historically produced strong representatives who understand that Nyali voters demand excellence.

The constituency’s voters are educated, politically sophisticated, and intolerant of mediocrity. They expect their MP to engage substantive national issues, not just focus on parochial constituency concerns. They want representation that makes them proud, leadership that elevates public discourse, and advocacy that delivers tangible results.

Abdulswamad Ali checks every box.

His experience working with successful political figures gives him immediate credibility and networks that can deliver for Nyali. His willingness to challenge powerful figures on matters of principle demonstrates the independence Nyali voters value. His analytical depth on issues from tribal politics to polling manipulation shows the intellectual seriousness the constituency expects.

Moreover, AA’s emphasis on cross-community solidarity resonates perfectly with Nyali’s cosmopolitan character. In a constituency where success requires building coalitions across diverse demographic groups, a candidate who explicitly rejects tribal arithmetic in favor of inclusive politics possesses inherent advantages.

The Competition Lacks AA’s Credentials

While seven people have either expressed interest or been mentioned as having an interest in the Nyali seat, none brings Abdulswamad Ali’s combination of experience, principle, and vision.

None of these candidates has shown AA’s willingness to take on powerful political figures or challenge corrupt systems like the manufactured polling industry. None has articulated a vision for Nyali that extends beyond narrow constituency service to address Kenya’s broader democratic challenges.

A Self-Proclamation Backed by Substance

Abdulswamad Ali’s decision to brand himself as “Nyali MP” well before the 2027 election might seem audacious, but it reflects justified confidence rather than empty arrogance. When you possess his credentials, experience, and moral clarity, self-proclamation becomes prophecy.

As the second most populous subcounty in Mombasa county with 124,253 registered voters, Nyali deserves leadership proportional to its importance. It deserves a representative who can navigate national politics with sophistication, challenge dangerous trends with courage, and deliver results with competence.

It deserves Abdulswamad Ali.

The Vision Forward

As Kenya approaches the 2027 general election, the stakes could not be higher. Will we continue down the path of tribal mobilization that Gachagua represents? Will we allow manufactured polls to manipulate public discourse and predetermine outcomes? Or will we demand better—leaders who prioritize issues over identity, truth over propaganda, and national cohesion over ethnic advantage?

Nyali constituency has the opportunity to send a powerful message by electing Abdulswamad Ali. His victory would represent a rejection of tribal politics, a rebuke to pseudo-scientific polling manipulation, and an endorsement of experience-driven, principle-centered leadership.

The self-proclaimed Nyali MP has earned the right to drop the “self-proclaimed” qualifier. Through years of strategic excellence behind the scenes, through moral courage in confronting dangerous rhetoric, and through analytical rigor in exposing corrupt systems, AA has demonstrated that he is exactly what Nyali needs.

When voters go to the polls in 2027, they should remember who stood against tribal politics when it was convenient to remain silent. They should remember who exposed the polling industry’s manipulation when others accepted manufactured narratives. They should remember who brought real experience, genuine principle, and bold vision to the race.

They should remember Abdulswamad Ali—and they should make his self-proclamation a democratic reality.