Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho interacts with traders at Kongowea Market. Photo: Hassan Joho/ facebook.comMombasa Governor Hassan Joho has expressed confidence that traders at Kongowea Market will throw their support behind him as he seeks to defend his seat during the forthcoming general election.Speaking on Friday when he toured the market, Joho said the traders will not let him walk alone despite President Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Nyali MP Hezron Awiti trying to woo the traders to their sides.The outspoken governor said the traders will still vote for him just like they did during the last general election. “I was elected Kisauni MP because of this market in 2007. In 2013, I won more votes than any other in the governor race here. I have faith in 2017 [that will be the case as well],” Joho said, as quoted by the Star. The Governor also said he feels at home whenever he is interacting with the people at the market.“I walk freely here because I know I am at home. It was not the same some time back. It was hot here. The politics was hot. But people have been united now. And that is the responsibility of leadership. My responsibility is to unite people here,” he added.The county boss assured the traders that he will come up with policies and incentives that will enhance business at the market.“Whenever there is a problem you come to us and we solve it. Ever since I was MP, I stood with Kongowea traders and there is no problem that has ever occurred that we did not solve,” he said.However, Nyali MP Hezron Awiti has insisted that the market is his stronghold, adding that he is the one who asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to renovate the market in a bid to transform the lives of small business operators. “I am the one who pushed President Uhuru to refurbish the retail centre after it had stalled for years. I have fought off land grabbers who had stolen land belonging to the market,” said Awiti during a phone interview with the daily.

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