Joho’s running mate William Kingi during a meeting with opinion leaders in the county. [Photo: Maxwel Ngala/ hivisasa.com]

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Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s running mate Professor William Kingi on Tuesday held a consultative meeting with opinion leaders in the county.

Kingi, a former lecturer at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), met the leaders to seek advice on issues affecting residents at the grassroots as well as to sell their agenda ahead of the August polls.

“I am seeking your blessings and support in this journey to be deputy governor of Mombasa. What has been done in the last four years has been laying of foundation for our development. The next four years will be for putting up a building that will last for years,” said Kingi during the meeting at Joho’s office.

The meeting comprised of elders, women, youth, and religious leaders drawn from Likoni, Bofu, Shika Adabu, Timbwani and Mtongwe wards in Likoni Sub County and Mji Wa Kale, Tudor, Tononoka, Majengo and Shimanzi in Mvita.

“I would like to know and understand the challenges affecting you as residents of Likoni and how you would want them to be solved. Good leadership is one which involves citizens and getting solutions from them,” he added.

The leaders, led by Hussein Ruga of Shika Adabu Ward, said they will put their weight behind Kingi and Joho, and urged the former don not to abandon the Governor once they ascend to power.

“You have our blessings; I believe your professionalism and education will be of great value to us as a county. I, however, appeal to you not to abandon the Governor while in office,” said Ruga.

The opinion leaders however, did not mince their words in criticizing the county administration in areas where they felt it had failed, and challenged Kingi to rectify the mistakes if Joho retains his seat.

“Bofu Ward experiences flooding whenever it rains due to poor drainage. I urge you to address this issue once and for all,” said Ramwendo Hamisi.

On his part, Kingi pledged to address all the issues that had been raised by the elders.