The spectre of the 1997 Likoni clashes is being cynically resurrected on the campaign trail, turning the 2027 Mombasa gubernatorial race into a dangerous dance with historical trauma.

Politics in the Coast region has always been a high-stakes game, but the current rhetoric exchanging fire between top contenders is dredging up memories that many families have spent decades trying to bury. The "Kaya Bombo" clashes, a dark chapter of state-sponsored ethnic cleansing and land displacement, are no longer just history; they are being weaponized as campaign talking points. This strategy of reopening old wounds to galvanize vote banks is reckless and threatens the fragile peace of the port city.

The Titans Clash at the Coast

The battle for the Mombasa Governor's seat has attracted the region's heavyweights. Incumbent Abdulswamad Nassir faces a fierce onslaught from UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar and Nyali MP Mohamed Ali. Each camp is accusing the other of being on the wrong side of history, using the trauma of the past to delegitimize their opponents.

This narrative warfare is dangerous because the underlying issues that fueled the original violence—land injustice, youth unemployment, and historical marginalization—remain largely unresolved. By invoking the ghosts of 1997, politicians are playing with a live fuse. The residents of Likoni and Kisauni do not need reminders of the bloodshed; they need solutions to the squatter problem and the drug menace that continues to consume their children.

• The Land Question: Despite decades of promises, the issue of absentee landlords and squatter rights remains the primary trigger for tension in the region.
• Identity Politics: The "Miji vs. Bara" narrative is being subtly reintroduced, creating an "us versus them" mentality that historically precedes violence.
• The 2027 Stakes: Control of Mombasa is critical for national influence, making the desperation for the seat palpable and the tactics increasingly dirty.

A Community on Edge

The residents of Mombasa are watching this unfolding drama with growing unease. The city, known for its vibrant culture and tourism, cannot afford a slide back into instability. The business community, already reeling from high taxes and logistical shifts to the dry port, is desperate for stability.

Civic leaders and elders are calling for a ceasefire on inflammatory rhetoric, but their voices are being drowned out by the roar of political rallies. The memory of Kaya Bombo should be a lesson in "never again," not a playbook for "one more time."

As the political temperature rises, the responsibility falls on the voters to reject the merchants of fear. Mombasa’s future depends on moving forward, not being dragged back into the blood-soaked soil of its past.