The ODM party has termed Jubilee's 'ill treatment' of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho as an act of cowardice.
The Orange party on Saturday in a statement said government's decision to withdraw the county chief's security was uncalled for and amounted to bullying the ODM deputy party leader.
On Friday, the government ordered all bodyguards attached to Governor Joho to withdraw and report to their respective work stations.
The order was made when Joho was away in Ghana where he accompanied ODM party leader Raila Odinga for the inauguration of Ghana president-elect Nana Akufo-Addo.
"ODM takes great reservations at these acts of 'bullying' that are meant to blackmail and arm twist governor Joho into supporting the failed Jubilee regime or to cow him into silence," ODM Director of Elections and Campaigns and Suna East MP Junet Muhammed said in a statement.
"This withdrawal of Governor Joho’s security, while completely illegal, has become an annual event under the Jubilee regime in which every December, President Uhuru Kenyatta retreats to the Coast for holiday and while there, tries to promote his party and his regime by undermining the work and the standing of the governor and other elected leaders allied to ODM in the area."
"Being a firm believer in ODM, Governor Joho naturally fights back by stating the facts as best as he understands them."
Friday's withdrawal of Joho's bodyguards is the second in less than a year after a similar development happened in 2016. At the time, besides withdrawing the governor's security, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery also ordered Mr Joho to surrender his licensed gun.
Joho challenged the legality of the order in court and won the case.