Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho at a past event. Photo/ the-star.co.keMombasa Governor Hassan Joho has brushed off concerns over recent defections of prominent Coast politicians from the opposition.Joho said the exodus toward the ruling Jubilee Party has not changed Coast politics and declared the region was still an opposition stronghold.The outspoken governor, speaking during an interview on NTV Jioni on Wednesday, said the residents will vote massively for the opposition despite the defections by leaders to the President Uhuru Kenyatta-led party.“In 2013 there were bigger celebrations of defections than we are seeing now. We saw people like Najib Balala, and some small parties being formed but the results did not change the position of the people at all,” said Joho as quoted by the Nation.Among the leaders who have joined JP include Tana River governor Hussein Dado,who defected from Wiper, Taita Taveta Senator Dan Mwazo and Women Representative Joyce Lay who defected from ODM.Joho, whose deputy Hazel Katana recently decamped to Jubilee, said the defections were not new at the Coast.“They have happened before but have never changed the position of the people,” said Joho.“They (Jubilee) came to Mombasa but it did not mean that the people are with them, they are still with us (opposition) and that is very clear,” he added.During a recent political rally at Tononoka Grounds, Deputy President William Ruto said Coast region, the once perceived Cord stronghold, has become a Jubilee zone.“The Coast region has shifted to Jubilee and those saying it is still a Cord stronghold are liars,” said Ruto.

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