An MP has come in defense of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho over his absence in rallies convened by Deputy President William Ruto whenever the DP visits Coast region.
Omar Mwinyi (Changamwe, ODM) on Monday said Ruto's visits to Coast are merely political and there is no way Joho can be party to such events.
He told Daily Nation that Joho envisages at contesting for the presidency in 2022 and cannot thus support Ruto who is also eyeing for the presidency.
"They are mainly political campaign visits," Mwinyi said as quoted by Daily Nation.
He compared Ruto's tours to President Uhuru Kenyatta's saying Uhuru only focuses on talking matters development when he tours the Coastal Counties.
"The President did not talk about 2022 politics but concentrated on development," he said of Uhuru's last visit to Mombasa.
"That is what we want and not political campaigns at this moment."
Mwinyi is among MPs from Mombasa and largely Coast who have resisted Ruto's attempt to pull them to his camp as he continues to traverse the country in his early 2022 campaigns.
The MP, at the same time, took a swipe at NASA MPs from the region who have crossed camp and declared their support for Ruto.
Ruto, since the October 26 repeat poll has visited Coast more than four times.
The last time the DP was in Mombasa was on Saturday and Joho was nowhere to be seen.