Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho with Nyali MP Hezron Awiti at a past event. [Photo/ the-coast.co.ke]
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has broken the silence over claims that he is planning to team up with Nyali MP Hezron Awiti ahead of the August 8 polls.
Joho has dismissed the claims, saying Awiti remains his rival in the governor race.The speculations arose following a recent meeting between the two Mombasa political bigwigs, during which the Governor officially opened the Links Roads in Nyali Constituency.During the function, Joho and Awiti pledged to work together, something that elicited mixed reactions with many political pundits predicting that the two rivals could be in talks to form a coalition.However, in an interview on KTN on Wednesday, Joho dismissed the claims, adding that they are only working together on matters development."Awiti is my opponent. How would I work with my opponent? We are working largely on matters development, he is running for governor and I wish him well,” said Joho.Earlier, Awiti's Vibrant Democratic Party had denied claims of a looming political deal with Joho's camp, insisting that the Nyali lawmaker will be on the ballot come August.Joho is keen on defending his seat despite stiff competition from Awiti and Senator Hassan Omar who was recently given direct nomination by his Wiper party.Also in the race is Jubilee's Suleiman Shahbal who lost to Joho in 2013.