Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho is under pressure to clear claims by a Mombasa-based businessman that the county chief is frustrating his investment plans.
John Mburu on Wednesday alleged the county government recently suspended marram excavation but later the activities were allowed to be carried out by Joho's 'business allies'.
He said the ban may have been slapped to target him. Mburu is a marran excavator in Kashani, Kisauni sub-county.
"I have learnt that other excavators are going on with their operations. I am informed that there is a case of conflict of interest in the ongoing business," Mburu said.
Joho's communications director Richard Chacha however, denied the claims saying the ban does not target anyone. He said anybody continuing with the excavation is doing it illegally since the ban has not been lifted.
"There is a ban and no (excavation) business is linked to Joho. If there is a ban, then it affects everybody," Chacha said.
Mburu said the county government's decision to suspend marram excavation had negatively affected his business and investment plans in the Coastal County.
He said any ban on any business in the county should be applied equally and not selectively.