President Uhuru Kenyatta with Mombasa governor Hassan Joho at a past event. Political analyst Peter Ngure says that the political show off pitting the two politicians could cause tension among their supporters ahead of the August 8 polls. [Photo: theafricanewspost.com]
The alleged political show off between President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee government and Mombasa governor Hassan Joho is not healthy for the country’s unity, a political analyst has said.
Peter Ngure, a Kiambu based analyst warns that the political show off pitting Uhuru and Joho could cause anxiety and tension among supporters of the two politicians.
Ngure says that while the politicians have a right to speak, unhealthy statements and actions could trigger animosity among their supporters.
Speaking during an interview on Monday, Ngure said that it is important for politicians to measure the words and actions they make during political campaigns to avoid plunging the country into chaos.
He added that it is important for the politicians to accommodate each other’s views despite their political differences.
The analyst said that the country could get polarised by careless actions and statements being made by some politicians.
“The political show off pitting Jubilee government and Governor Hassan Joho and others could turn into something else if they don’t tone down,” he warned.
Ngure said that politicians must be guided by the law even as they woo for political support.
Jubilee government top leaders have been at loggerheads with Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho in the recent days,
Governor Joho, a critic of President Uhuru’s government has often told off the Jubilee administration in regards to development projects.
Joho has been alleging that Jubilee government is riding on projects that were launched by the Coalition government to woo for votes.
The Jubilee government has in turn been accusing Governor Joho of doing little to better the living standards of locals despite getting huge funding from the national government.
In February, Joho accused Jubilee government of allegedly linking him to drug trafficking syndicates. This was after President Uhuru Kenyatta said that drug traffickers at the Coast will be smoked out and dealt with according to the law.
Joho has also been at loggerheads with Coastal regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa over drug trafficking allegations.
On Sunday during a political rally at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked Joho to show what he has done for the people and stop attacking him and his deputy William Ruto.
On Monday the Mombasa governor was allegedly denied access to attend the launch of Mtongwe Ferry that was being presided over by President Kenyatta.
Joho was allegedly blocked from the event by security agents.
The President while addressing locals after launching the Ferry services allegedly asked Joho to stop following him since he was not his wife.
The Head of State asked Joho to instead focus on delivering services to the locals.
Governor Joho now claims that he has been placed under office arrest and that he is not allowed to go anywhere until President Kenyatta leaves Mombasa.
The controversial Mombasa governor has however said that he will not be intimidated by Jubilee government.