Nyali Member of Parliament and Mombasa gubernatorial aspirant Mohamed Ali has come under renewed scrutiny after documents seen by our desk revealed that Somtrade Limited, a company linked to some of his close associates, owes the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) more than Sh43.5 million in outstanding rental and cargo charges.
According to the documents, Somtrade Limited entered into a lease agreement with KPA on November 21, 2023, relating to the occupation of Shade 2 on Title Number Mombasa/Block/1/492 within the port precincts.
Company records indicate that the firm’s directors include Mohamed Ibrahim Abdi, who served as Mombasa County Executive Committee Member for Trade during former Governor Hassan Joho’s administration, and Naeem Shafiq Mohamed, a nominated Member of the County Assembly under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Naeem Shafiq Mohamed is widely known as a close associate and personal assistant to Nyali MP Mohamed Ali.
Investigations further established that Naeem Shafiq Mohamed is the company’s largest shareholder, holding 30 shares. He is followed by Ibrahim Bagajo Karayu and Mohamed Ibrahim Abdi, who each own 25 shares, while Suleiman Ibrahim Surrow holds 20 shares.
Documents reviewed by our desk show that KPA, through a demand letter dated June 10, 2026, notified Somtrade Limited of outstanding arrears totaling Sh43,590,157.47.
The debt comprises Sh25,142,410 in rental and lease arrears under Account No. 411200 and Sh18,447,747.47 in cargo-related charges under Account No. 103011.
The authority’s letter indicates that Somtrade Limited had sought approval for a structured payment plan to settle the debt. However, KPA reportedly declined the request, citing its policy of operating strictly on a cash basis.
“This has reference to your letters dated 9th March 2026 (Cargo A/C) and 4th May 2026 (Rental/Lease A/C) proposing payment plans for the long outstanding debts,” the letter states.
“As you are aware, Kenya Ports Authority operates on a cash basis; there are no credit facilities for the services offered by KPA. This therefore means that the above debts are in contradiction to policy in addition to falling under the category of uncollectable debts due to the prolonged period.”
According to the documents, the company was given seven days to clear the outstanding amount or face legal action.
In separate correspondence reviewed by our desk, Somtrade Limited appealed for additional time to settle the debt. In a letter signed by director Mohamed Ibrahim Abdi, the company requested a two-month grace period to clear the balance through five installments.
“Therefore, we respectfully request a mercy period of two months to settle the remaining balance in five installments. We are confident that with your understanding and cooperation, we will fulfill our financial obligations within this time frame,” the letter states.
The documents further show that the company was granted authority to operate the facility for a period of five years and three months. A subsequent amendment to the lease agreement revised the commencement date from June 1, 2023, to June 1, 2024, while retaining the duration of the lease.
Meanwhile, a lobby group that shared some of the documents has accused Mohamed Ali of distancing himself from individuals and institutions that allegedly supported him politically in the past. The group further claims to possess photographs and videos purportedly showing the MP engaging with procurement officials, although the authenticity and context of the material could not be independently verified.
Mohamed Ali has not been accused in any of the documents reviewed, nor has there been any indication that he holds ownership or directorship in Somtrade Limited.
The revelations are nonetheless expected to fuel political debate in Mombasa as attention shifts to the company’s operations, the substantial debt owed to KPA, and the relationships between the firm’s directors and prominent political figures in the county.
Efforts to obtain comments from Mohamed Ali, Somtrade Limited and Kenya Ports Authority were ongoing by the time of publication.
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