Nairobi — Just when the political rift between ODM MPs in Mombasa over the election of mayor was beginning to heal, a fresh confrontation has emerged, this time over the controversial waste management contract for the coastal town.

The conflict pits Tourism minister Najib Balala against some businessmen said to be pulling strings to ensure that Italian solid waste management firm Jacorossi Impresse is awarded the contract to clean Mombasa.

Broke his silence

The firm's representatives made a presentation two weeks ago on how they planned to manage waste in Mombasa and was endorsement by some civic leaders and tourism stakeholders.

Mayor Ahmed Mohdhar, who did not attend the presentation although he is said to have been in Town Hall, broke his silence a few days later to back Mr Balala's call that the waste management contract be re-tendered.

Mr Balala, the Mvita MP, is convinced that an alternative deal with the French government, in form of a grant, is more favourable because, unlike Jacorossi which plans to charge a fee to fund its operations, Mombasa residents will not pay for the service.

This is not the first time that Jacorossi Impresse has been exposed to Kenya's intricate wheeling and dealing.

Its first attempt to get the contract was nipped in the bud when competitors rushed to court and blocked it. Jacorossi however, lodged an appeal and won.

But as they were preparing to sign a new contract, they were confronted with the latest turn of events and will have to wait a bit longer for their dream to be realised.

The differences between Mr Balala and those who support the garbage deal is just the tip of the iceberg.

Earlier, Mr Balala and his Kisauni counterpart and parliamentary first timer, Mr Hassan Joho, had differed sharply over whom to back for mayor.

So serious was the rift between the two legislators that last Sunday, the influential secretary general of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), nominated MP Sheikh Mohamed Dor, called a meeting to reconcile the two.

Sources told the Saturday Nation that the relations between the two politicians turned frosty when they failed to agree on who to support for the post of the mayor of Kenya's coastal gateway.

"Although it had been agreed that they would rally behind businessman Taufiq Balala, a relative of the minister, the Joho camp developed cold feet at the eleventh hour and instead, threw its weight behind nominated councillor Ahmed Mohdhar," a source close to both MPs said.

Mr Balala confirmed that he had floated the name of his nephew on the insistence of Mr Joho, who had struck a rapport with Mr (Taufiq) Balala during campaigns for the Kisauni by-election in December 2004.

Nepotism

"I do not support nepotism but I only suggested Taufiq for mayor because Joho insisted that he should take the job," the minister told the Saturday Nation.

When Taufiq lost by two votes, Mr Balala blamed what he says was a scheme to over-nominate councillors in Mombasa, a tactic that tilted the vote in favour of Mr Mohdhar.

Sheikh Dor says that he decided to reconcile the two legislators because "their differences were hurting the Muslim unity and the general development of the region."

The other two Mombasa MPs, Ramadhan Kajembe and Massoud Mwahima, did not attend the meeting at which both Mr Balala and Mr Joho pledged to bury their differences.

Mr Balala, however, says that although he was in total agreement with Sheikh Dor on conciliation, he had been caught unawares by the initiative.

"I was taken by surprise by Sheikh Dor's initiative but I went ahead and supported it," he said.

No need

Sheikh Dor said: "We reconciled them in public and I hope that they will keep their pledge. I told them that we are all ODM MPs and, above all Muslims, so there is no need to squabble."

Although Mr Balala says he is being persecuted for remaining firm in his resolve to serve the people of Mombasa, he is ready to work with his colleagues but will not support a "leadership of making deals."

"The election of the mayor is behind us and it is upon them to decide if they want to move ahead and serve the electorate or continue with the fighting," the minister says adding: "So long as the mayor does a good job, we shall support him if he fails to deliver, we shall fight him."