Shariff Nassir was a prominent Kenyan politician from Mombasa who played a significant role in the country’s political landscape during President Daniel arap Moi’s regime. He is the father to the current Governor of Mombasa County, His Excellency Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir (born). Known for his loyalty to the ruling party KANU and his fiery rhetoric, Nassir was a towering figure in Coast Province politics and one of the longest-serving Mvita MPs with 24 years under his belt.
He passed away at the age of 73 during the morning hours of Sunday, November 27, 2005 when he was rushed to Mombasa Hospital for medication after collapsing at his Ganjoni house at around 6.15 a.m and was buried at Sarigoi Muslim cemetery.
Early Life and Education
Shariff Nassir was born in 1926 in Lamu, Kenya. His family later moved to Mombasa, where he pursued his education. He attended Serani Primary School (formerly Arab Boys School) and later Shimo la Tewa Secondary School, where he completed both junior and senior Cambridge examinations. Nassir’s early exposure to education laid the foundation for his future career as a clerk and eventual entry into politics.
Political Career
Pre-Independence Politics:
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- Nassir joined politics before Kenya’s independence and became one of the top leaders of the Coast Peoples Party (CPP), a political movement advocating for coastal interests.
- After independence, he transitioned to the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) under the leadership of Ronald Ngala.
KANU Leadership:
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- When KADU was disbanded in 1964, Nassir joined the ruling party, Kenya African National Union (KANU). He served as Ronald Ngala’s vice chairman for the KANU Mombasa branch until Ngala’s death in 1972.
- Following Ngala’s passing, Nassir took over as chairman of the KANU Mombasa branch, becoming a dominant figure in coastal politics.
Mvita MP:
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- In 1974, Nassir was elected as Member of Parliament for Mombasa Central Constituency (now Mvita), defeating the late Mohamed Jahazi (1935-2024). He served as MP for an unprecedented 24 years, winning re-election multiple times until his defeat in 2002 by Najib Balala during the rise of multi-party politics. Balala stood under a NARC-Kenya ticket.
- During his tenure, he held various positions, including Assistant Minister and Cabinet Minister for Home Affairs.
Loyalty to Moi:
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- Nassir was a staunch ally of President Daniel arap Moi and fiercely defended him against critics. In 1978, following President Jomo Kenyatta’s death, Nassir boldly declared that Moi should be elected unopposed as Kenya’s second president—a move that solidified his loyalty to Moi and earned him political favor.
- He coined the slogan “Wapende Wasipende” (“Like it or not”), which encapsulated his unapologetic support for KANU and Moi’s leadership.
- In March 1999, Nassir controversially suggested that Moi should extend his presidency beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms—a proposal that reflected his loyalty but drew criticism from reformists advocating for democratic change.
Challenges and Decline
During the advent of multi-party politics in 1992, Nassir faced increasing challenges as opposition parties gained traction in Coast Province. While many KANU politicians abandoned the party during the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) wave in 2002, Nassir remained loyal to KANU—a decision that led to his defeat by Najib Balala in the Mvita parliamentary race. At this point, Kenya, which had been under the Nyayo regime for more than two decades wanted to see some change, and the word on the street was “Moi [and all his merry men] Must Go!”. Anyone riding the NARC wave with the late Mwai Kibaki as the presidential candidate was poised to win.
The late Shariff Nassir lived a simple life that impacted those around him positively. His son, H.E Governor Abdulswamad was to ;ater say of his father that he was sp generous that at times he even left the family in need, leaving home with a briefcase filled with money and come back empty handed. He lived his life for his constituents.