UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar's decision to run for Mombasa governor has created divisions within the UDA and ODM pact, potentially disrupting their planned coordinated campaigns in the Coast region for the 2027 General Election.

• Hassan Omar rejected the concept of political zoning, advocating for free voter choice.
• The dispute highlights the challenge of reconciling national political agreements with strong local ambitions.
• Mombasa is a crucial ODM stronghold, making Omar's bid a test for UDA's expansion and ODM's continued dominance.