President Uhuru Kenyatta’s intended visit to Mombasa County has been met with various reactions.
A section of leaders allied to the Jubilee coalition have welcomed the visit, with opposition leaders in the county dismissing it as irrelevant and uncalled for.
On his part, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho said the county leadership respects President Kenyatta, but asked him to reciprocate the respect by not talking ill of opposition leader Raila Odinga during his tour.
“They have planned a tour of the county. We want to tell them that Mombasa people are peace loving and respectful so let them not come here to insult us or our leaders because if you insult or disrespect Raila, you will have me to contend with,” said Joho.
The governor also cautioned the Jubilee leadership against propagating tribal politics during the tour, saying that Mombasa was a cosmopolitan county where communities thrived in peace and harmony.
“We have seen and heard them preaching tribal politics elsewhere. We want to remind them that this is County 001 where everyone is welcomed and we live without any tribal difference,” said the county boss.
President Uhuru’s tour of the county early this year nearly ended in a physical fist between Joho and Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko after Joho accused the president of sidelining the county leadership.