President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho at a past event [Photo/ nairobinews.nation.co.ke]
It's no secret that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho do not see eye to eye. After some months of a ceasefire, the battle between the two political protagonists is back on the cards with both keen to outmaneuver each other.In the run to the August 8 poll, the duo's relationship had hit an all-time low. Joho had serious run-ins with Uhuru's government. However, after a bruising battle, the outspoken Governor easily defended his seat and immediately opened a new war front.Joho's win coincided with NASA leader Raila Odinga's failure to topple Uhuru from the presidency and since then, he has failed to recognise the Jubilee supremo as Kenya's President.Alongside his political ally and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, the duo is calling for Coast region’s secession.Uhuru has been using Tourism CS Najib Balala and Joho's long-time political rival and immediate former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar to communicate Jubilee's position regarding the secession call.The Jubilee leadership in the region has been issuing periodic statements dismissing the calls to secede, arguing that Joho and Kingi are misleading residents after failing in their mandate as county bosses.During the recently concluded governors’ induction in Kwale, Joho and Kingi were conspicuously absent. Uhuru did not hesitate to take an issue with them, warning that his government will not entertain secession calls.The election of Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya as chair of the Council of Governors is also seen by many as a political strategy to neutralise Joho and Kingi’s political influence in the Coast region.However, speaking on Sunday, Joho fired a warning shot at Balala and Omar, saying they are not in the same political league with him.Should Uhuru's strategy fail to bear fruit, then his presidency will face an acid test in containing the two county bosses ahead of the 2022 general election.Is there a newsworthy accident, incident or event happening in Mombasa County that you want Hivisasa to cover? Tell us what is happening by joining this group and have it published. http://bit.ly/2BipYa6