Chaos as Governor Ali Johos rally disrupted by rowdy Lamu youth

Mombasa Governor, Ali Hassan Joho, found himself in trouble after a public rally he was to address was disrupted by rowdy youth at Mpeketoni in Lamu.

Trouble started when Joho’s convoy was making its way to the venue but was met by chants, heckling and motorcycle horns from irate youth who attempted to block his planned address.

The youth started pelting Joho with stones when he took to the podium to address the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) rally resulting in a confrontation between his supporters and the youth perceived to be Jubilee Party supporters.

Joho’s attempts to avert the bitter clash fell on deaf ears, with police being forced to lob teargas to disperse the crowds.

The disruption of Joho’s rally, who has been on a tour of Lamu and TaitaTaveta counties, comes just days after a series of verbal altercations with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

President Kenyatta had on Monday, March 13, accused Joho of pestering him and interfering with his work.

The President said Joho, who was put under office arrest on Monday, should focus on dispensing his duties as governor, instead of interfering with national government projects.

“He should not play with us or else we will teach him a lesson,” President Kenyatta said at Mtongwe Channel Monday, where he re-commissioned a ferry, MV Likoni.

The President, in 2017 alone, has made several trips to the Coastal County, where he launched several projects including Mtongwe ferry, Buxton Foot Bridge, Ziwa La Ng’ombe Informal Settlement Infrastructural Improvement Project in Nyali and Mombasa Storm Water Drainage Improvement Project Phase II in Bamburi.

Speaking beside the President in Bamburi in January, Joho said the money for Buxton Foot Bridge was donated by World Bank, and not Jubilee Government as was claimed by the Head of State.

Nearly two months later, the face-off between the Head of State and Joho escalated after the President’s handlers barred the governor from attending a function presided by him (Uhuru) in Mtongwe.

Sections of political leaders inclined toward the Jubilee administration accused Joho of disrespecting the President when he told off Uhuru, in his presence in January, hence the reason of his barring from attending Mtongwe ferry launch.

In a quick rejoinder, Mombasa Governor, Ali Hassan Joho however said that he will not apologise to President Uhuru Kenyatta for calling him (President Kenyatta) out for what Joho terms as “deceiving area residents with outdated and fake development projects”.

Speaking at a rally in Taita Taveta County on Thursday, March 16, Joho distanced himself from accusations of disrespecting the Head of State.

Instead, he says President Kenyatta, during his Mombasa tour, launched projects that were commissioned by the grand coalition government, and not Jubilee.