Jubilee venting frustration, failure through Joho’s arrest – Opposition

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has accused the government of harassment and intimidation following the alleged arrest of Mombasa Governor, Ali Hassan Joho, on Friday.

Through a statement signed by the Secretary General, Agnes Zani, the party said that the government’s use of force will be rejected by all means.

“The ODM Party wishes to express the displeasure in the manner in which the State is manhandling, harassing and causing undue embarrassment to the Deputy Party Leader, Hassan Ali Joho,” read the ODM statement in part.

“The Governor of the County of Mombasa has for sometime now been subject to intimidation and humiliation by the Jubilee administration, who are uncomfortable with his stand on many ills and vices committed by them.”

The party argues that the government started harassing Joho after he declined to decamp to the Jubilee side.

“It is an open secret that Governor Joho’s woes began the day he rejected overtures by the government and their agencies to lead a mass defection from the opposition to Jubilee. He has since stood firm in the defence of the people of the Coast mostly who live as squatters on their own land.”

“The fact that Joho commands massive support among the people of the Coast for his bravery to stand against Jubilee lies and propaganda has made him an enemy of the State hence the harassment.”

The opposition party says Jubilee should not vent its frustrations and failure to deliver on its election promises to the public, the massive public looting right from top to bottom and its increasing unpopularity on innocent and hardworking opposition leaders.

“As a party we are demanding that the government stops the harassment of opposition leaders, particularly Governor Joho. We read mischief in the earlier statements by Government Spokesman Mr. Eric Kiraithe and the Coast Regional Co-ordinator Mr. Nelson Marwa and yesterday’s subsequent arrest of Gov. Joho and two Members of Parliament Hons. Abdulswamad Nassir and Rashid Bedzimba in Mombasa.”

ODM added: “The government must serve her people equally and should embrace the basic democratic tenets of fair competition at all times. Harassment of our leaders shall be resisted.”

Details emerged Friday evening that the Mombasa Governor had been arrested after forcing his way to Urban Police Station to demand the release of his ally who had been arrested in the morning hours.

However, the Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinett, denied the claims that Joho had been arrested saying that the Governor had decided to camp at the police station all day until his arrested supporter was released.