President Uhuru Kenyatta spent the better part of December and January in Mombasa and residents have been blowing hot and cold over that visit.
Well, to begin with, there were complaints about an abnormal traffic jam at Likoni Ferry for some hours.
This was, allegedly, different from the normal traffic jam that is experienced every day at Likoni channel. Saturday’s was a special one as when the president was about to use the channel to cross to the other side, commuters were delayed for hours as preparations were being made to let his entourage pass.
“Although we were happy that president was visiting us, we were also delayed for hours as some of us were crossing to do their businesses,” said one of the resident.
Then, Governor Joho smiles with or at President Uhuru.
Even after Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho stood and accused president Uhuru of running away from him during his Mombasa visit, residents could not understand the trick of politics when they later saw the two together talking and laughing as friends.
“I thought Joho would not sit with the president after the accusation he delivered in front of him just because they belong to different parties. Surely this is just a game of politics and I now believe that there are no enemies in politics,” said Jeffa, one of the residents.
Before that there was the shaking of hands with Mr President, a “great man in this nation”.
Apart from squatters being given title deeds which was his main reason of his visit to the area, Kenyatta made some residents sleep happy after that ‘golden handshake’.
“We used to see the president on TV but today I shook hands with him. He is a great man of the nation we have to agree that and everyone will admire him. Thank God today I’m lucky,” one lady said.
And then, the disappointments came. Some expected cash to fly in the air but Sonko flew criticism?
As expected by many Kenyans, whenever Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko visits an area he makes it ‘rain cash’. In Mombasa, however, things were different as he ‘rained criticism” on their leader Hassan Joho. When Sonko took to the mike, he criticised Joho and the opposition for always accusing the government.
“Sonko throws cash in dollars to the people but we did not see that. In fact, these are the areas he has been living in before he became a leader. He is our person here but it just ended like that,” said a disappointed resident.
And 'usaliti' was also in the mix. Mwahima was confused and forgot his party name in front of the president.
When Mwalimu Mwahima was giving his speech, some residents say he was overjoyed to the point of forgetting to name his party.
Mwahima who won the ticket through ODM made people burst in laughter when he told Kenyatta that Likoni was part of Kenya and a CDF zone instead “ODM”.
“We know Mwahima was overjoyed…but the brown envelope… and then migrating to another party…,” they said.