President William Ruto has asked the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders in Mombasa to put aside their differences and work together in the spirit of the broad-based government.

Ruto made the request on Friday, October 2, when he addressed people at the Mama Ngina Waterfront Grounds on the sidelines of the title deed issuing ceremony to Mombasa residents.

“You are people of the broad-based government; let us be together. I humbly ask you, let us not quarrel, let us not fight, let us stay together,” Ruto said. “We are brothers, we are one community. People of ODM and people of UDA, you are one brotherhood. Let us live together, let us stay together.”

The President’s warning comes as tension rises between Mombasa’s ODM and UDA ahead of the 2027 General Election. Incumbent Governor Abdullswamad Nassir seeks re-election, and the UDA’s Secretary-General Hassan Omar and East African Legislative Assembly Member Suleiman Shahbal are his main challengers.

UDA and ODM deputies have been at loggerheads over the coalition government’s proposals for ODM and UDA to work together in Mombasa. Hassan Omar and Shahbal have challenged the recommendation, and the latter has stakes in the race for the county seat. Ruto had previously asked Shahbal to concentrate on promoting investment and business in the coast and not engage in politics.

Ruto appealed to the people of Mombasa to stop dividing themselves into different political parties and work together in unison.

“I want to ask you humbly, as my brothers, let us not quarrel. Our enemies are not here; those competing with us are over there,” Ruto said.

In his speech, Ruto also spoke of the 2027 Political Parties, urging his supporters to hold on to the broad-based setup. President Ruto met with thousands of Mombasa residents on Friday who have received title deeds to their residences as part of the government’s land registration program in the coastal region.

The government had set aside 4,360 title deeds to be given to Mombasa County residents as part of the largesse it allocated to the Coast region. According to reports, approximately 5,000 Mombasans received the deeds during the day’s events. The titles were given to people living in various settlement schemes, including Dongo Kundu, Waitiki, Mwakirunge, Mikindani, and Mafisini.

Ruto said the government’s 300,000 title deed giveaway was meant to eradicate the land ownership problem in Mombasa and create awareness of the right to own property by giving people the documents, which serve as proof of ownership.

The President said the government will give out 300,000 titles during this program. “We will give 300,000 titles in Mombasa in the land registration program that we are about to embark on,” he said.

However, the land registration program has not been smooth for everyone. In Jomvu, residents of Kwa Punda have protested the titling program because the land belongs to another person who is taking it to court. The matter is currently before the Courts. Ruto’s plea for unity comes as Mombasa’s political parties square off against each other in preparations for the 2027 elections, in which the President will seek re-election for a second term.