Mombasa governor, Ali Hassan Joho, on Wednesday revealed why he has been traveling abroad for the past one month.
Many political leaders and analysts have harshly bashed the governor for his foreign trips with the latest criticism coming from Tony Gachoka, a political analyst.
Gachoka last week called on Mr. Joho to settle down and work for Mombasa people saying that devolution required leaders to be on the ground.
However, the governor has indeed defended himself claiming that he used to travel before even he became a politician and nothing has changed.
Speaking in Kakamega at the 5th Governor's Devolution Conference, Joho said that leaders also need some time away from work to re-energize.
"First of all, I traveled recently for work and then I took time out on my own, on vacation. I have been traveling way before I became a politician. So sometimes I need time out to re-energize and then come back with fresh thinking," he said.
According to Mr. Joho, the most important thing is that he has laid down structures that would always function whether he is in or out of office.
"But the most important point is that you set up structures that do function when you are there or not. I had a functioning government and I have competent teams," he added.
The governor had been away to Spain, Australia among other countries before jetting back last week and being seen at Alikiba's wedding ceremony in Mombasa.