Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir has dismissed reports that he and a part of his family were involved in the abduction of a Mombasa-based blogger.
In a statement on Monday, September 30, 2024, Nassir denied being involved in the abduction and torture of Bruce John Khajira, a blogger who has been heavily criticizing the County Government of Mombasa.
“This is a very trying moment for both me and my family. Throughout my life, neither myself nor any of my family members have ever crossed the line of meting any form of violence on anyone. Even when I go out on public platforms, my policy has been of never mentioning anyone and never talking in vulgar. We have never, and will never stoop that low,” Nassir stated.
Nassir has linked the incident to politics, accusing unnamed persons of using the incident to gain political mileage.
Nassir’s family
He has also cited criminal incidences against his family, including an invasion in his mother’s house where a laptop and a mobile phone were taken away.
“A couple of weeks before the incident that is said to have been done on this young man, my mother’s house was invaded, not once but twice and every one of those incidences we reported. In the invasion of my mother’s house, nothing else was taken except a laptop and a mobile phone. CCTV footages were provided to the authorities,” he added.
“My family car was approached by armed people and a report was made (to the police). When this unfortunate incident happened and a video started circulating that talked of words that I cannot be able to state about my mother and the mother of my children, the first thing that I did was to speak to my family and we in unity agreed we will do whatever we have always been doing; leave this to the Almighty.”
Nassir has also accused the blogger of sending him inappropriate messages over 800, which he says he has never responded to.
“It is unfortunate that such a scenario like this is now being used for politics. I’m more than willing to state this to the authorities; this young man sent me messages in excess of 800 from different numbers. I have never responded to any of those messages. As much as I feel sorry for whatever happened to this young man, the spirit of my family will not only forgive and forget, we will let the Almighty (take charge),” he added.
The first-term governor has also vowed to ensure that those behind the malignment of his family will be brought to book
“I have every intention of clearing our name. I have every intention of ensuring that those behind this form of malignment will equally be brought to book,” he stated.
