Family of the late Salim Abdalla Kuuza was overwhelmed with emotions after they received keys to a Sh6 million house built by EALA MP Hassan Omar.
Kuuza, a close ally of Omar, who is also UDA vice chairman, died on May 22 last year, after battling throat cancer for more than two years.
In 2022, despite his health challenges, he vied for the Bofu MCA seat in Likoni subcounty, against Omar's advice.
He, however, lost the seat to ODM’s Juma Manuari.
In an emotional tribute, Omar revealed how he tried to protect Kuuza.
In return, Kuuza stood with him and gave him the strength he needed when he vied for Mombasa governor's seat.
Omar spoke on Sunday when he handed-over the house to Kuuza's family.
“Salim, for three or four years running, used to text me every morning wishing me well. He had my back no matter the circumstances," he said.
“But as the cancer ate him from inside, the text messages began to reduce.”
Omar said Kuuza was the first person to call him when he lost the seat to Abdulswamad Nassir.
“Many people are not aware, but in 2017 when I vied for the governorship on a Wiper ticket, Salim convinced my elder Masoud Mwahima (late former Likoni MP) to support me despite being in TNA and he did,” he said.
“He was also the first person to call me after I lost the election to Hassan Joho. He told me to go to Jubilee before the dust settles and was categorical that I should work more with President William Ruto and not former President Uhuru Kenyatta.”
Omar officially joined Jubilee ahead of the repeat presidential election.
In his speech, he mentioned Ruto four or five times but did not mention Uhuru, raising eyebrows.
“It is then that Uhuru’s handlers noticed there was something cooking. Salim told me I would rather miss out on Uhuru's cabinet but be in Ruto's regime and that is when I started walking with the President," he said.
The EALA MP said he was inspired by Kuuza’s courage and determination during his battle with cancer.
“All the while, I would see him with a yellow UDA scarf on his neck until one day, when I asked him, and he showed me a wound on his neck and told me what he was going through," Omar said.
“I told him, ‘Rest, my friend. Cancer is not a joke. We will nominate you or give you a job. I am sure we will win’. But he refused and insisted that he will go all the way to the ballot and help me win the governor's seat.”
In between treatment in Moshi, Tanzania, Kuuza won the Bofu ward UDA ticket and also became Mombasa UDA MCA Candidates Forum chairman.
“I asked UDA MCA candidates not to vote for him so that he could rest but they said they will grant him his wish,” Omar said.
“He was more determined to win than I was. I watched Salim fade away in the brutal hands of cancer but always optimistic that he will recover. I encouraged him to soldier on even though deep down, I knew he was dying.”
