“This Is an Abuse of Power” — MP Moha Jicho Pevu Demands IEBC Action After Billboard Takedown

Nyali MP Mohamed Ali has raised alarm over the alleged forceful removal of voter awareness billboards in Mombasa County.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, April seven, the legislator said the incident occurred on the night of April six, revealing that three billboards were pulled down under unclear circumstances.

According to Ali, the billboards had been installed in Buxton, Ferry and Kibarani, and were meant to promote voter registration in the county.

“Three outdoor billboards carrying a civic message encouraging voter registration that I lawfully procured through Magnate Ventures and other licensed vendors, were forcibly pulled down following intimidation and threats directed at advertising operators,” he said.

The MP accused Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir of being behind the incident, claiming that pressure had also been extended to operators of digital advertising platforms.

“I have further been informed that similar threats have been extended to operators of digital screens across the County, warning them against airing an animated version of the same message.

“Vendors have pointed to pressure emanating from within the County Government led by Governor Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir,” he added.

Ali maintained that the billboard content was purely civic, aimed at encouraging voter participation rather than promoting political divisions.

He condemned the incident, terming it a violation of constitutional rights and an attack on civic space.

“The pulling down of billboards with such civic messaging is an outright abuse of power and the suppression of civic space. It violates our freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 33 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to communicate ideas, particularly those of public interest.

“It further suppresses voter awareness efforts in the Coast as a futile attempt to maintain the historical low voter registration levels in the region. This deplorable action also infringes on the rights of private businesses as advertising vendors are being intimidated and threatened for simply engaging in legitimate commerce,” he said.

The MP also criticised what he described as entrenched political systems in the county, accusing leaders of interfering with private enterprise and limiting citizens’ participation in governance.

“For so long, Mombasa has been run by people who assume that the whole county is their family affair dictating how private entities operate and how the common mwananchi lives. The county has been milked dry at the expense of Mombasa people,” he said.

Ali called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to investigate the matter and intervene.

“I hereby call upon the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to urgently investigate and intervene in what is clearly interference with legitimate voter registration awareness efforts.

“The people of Mombasa to remain vigilant. This is not about one candidate-it is about your right to choose leadership freely,” he stated.

The development comes months after Ali dismissed what he termed a coordinated smear campaign against him, accusing unnamed political actors of spreading fabricated content to mislead the public.

In a statement on February four, the MP rejected a fake quote attributed to him, saying it was part of propaganda tactics that Kenyans have become familiar with.

“We know this handwriting all too well. Next time, when you task your bloggers with such propaganda, at least get them to craft something believable,” he said.

He added that such efforts would not succeed, arguing that voters are now more aware and less susceptible to manipulation.

“Smear campaigns won’t work this time round. Hao munaita wajinga, basi wamezinduka!” he said.