Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has accused the Jubilee administration of trying to cover up alleged election malpractices in the recently concluded Malindi parliamentary by-election by ordering him to return guns and withdrawing security officers attached to him.
Joho also accused the national government of targeting him by linking businesses associated with him with misconduct.
"Fundamental abuses took place in the Malindi by-elections that Mr Nkaissery must address and which the Jubilee regime is trying cover up using made up stories about guns and bodyguards," Governor Joho said in a prepared press conference on Monday.
Joho alleged that Coast regional coordinator Nelson Marwa was in charge of an illegal deployment of military personnel in Malindi in last week's by-election.
"Military personnel, complete with armoured personnel carriers were visibly present in Malindi. Mr Nelson Marwa was in charge of the national government security agencies that blockaded Malindi," Joho alleged.
"Just before the elections, the Interior ministry came up with a tale that Mungiki and other terror gangs were regrouping."
"It was part of the scare-mongering that will certainly reemerge in the coming days to justify a crackdown on Opposition supporters and leaders," Joho claimed.