Unapologetic Joho takes on President Uhuru again

Mombasa Governor, Ali Hassan Joho, says 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President Uhuru Kenyatta for calling him (President Kenyatta) out for what Joho terms as “deceiving area residents with outdated and fake development projects”.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.

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.

Joho later said he has never disrespected the President because “my parents instilled discipline in me. I can never abuse anyone”.

The governor has now clarified what has been perceived as “disrespect” according by some quotas.

“You (Uhuru) cannot come to Mombasa County, sell parcels of land to my squatters and expect me to clap for you. When I speak out, claiming what you are doing is not right; you say that I abused you. If indeed that is an abuse, then it is up to you,” said Joho.

“If defending the rights of my people is being perceived as an insult to you, then I have no apology to make. If giving fake and outdated development projects to my people and I fault you for it comes across as being disrespectful, then it is up to you,” added Joho.

LURED BY CHOPPER RIDES

Governor Joho also took a swipe at Coast politicians who recently decamped from the Opposition to Jubilee.

“We have come here to ascertain Coast no longer needs politics of division and tribalism as we are all daughters and sons of one God,” Deputy President, William Ruto, said at Tononoka Grounds on Sunday, March 12, while receiving the defectors.

Politicians who defected include: Tana River Governor, Hussein Dado, Ali Bule (Senator) and Woman Rep Halima Ware – all from Wiper Party, Ganze MP, Peter Shehe, Kwale Governor, Salim Mvurya, MPs Gideon Mung’aro, Mustafa Iddi and deputy governors Hazel Katana and Kennedy Kamto, Senator Dan Mwazo and Woman Rep Joyce Lay.

Joho now says the defectors were “lured by free chopper rides”, and not political ideology as should be.

“Those who decamped to Jubilee, from the Coast region, were lured by plane rides. I heard there is an aircraft that picked several politicians, originally inclined toward the Opposition, and flew them to Nairobi. If it is an airplane ride they direly needed, they should have told me to give them free rides in Mombasa,” Joho said.