The relationship between Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and President Uhuru Kenyatta was seen to soar on Wednesday after the state failed to invite the host governor at a tourism event presided over by the president in Mombasa.
The cold ties were heightened further when Joho took to the social media to lament over not being invited to the State House Tourism Summit meeting.
“I wasn’t invited but I don’t whine. I hope everyone plays their part as I play mine…. We could dialogue together as stakeholders if only we were invited to the forum. Dialogue is key to creating synergy.”
Joho said that Kenyatta and the national government were on their chain of what he referred to as a public relations scheme.
“National government is again talking at us instead of talking with us on tourism matters. Such PR exercises will not advance tourism.
Joho further criticised tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala over playing politics with the county government concerning the all-important invitation.
“How can the CS talk about involving the county government and he doesn’t invite the host and Coast counties to such a forum?”
Joho and Kenyatta have not had the best of relations with the latter often coming out to criticise Kenyatta’s way of governance, especially on terror-related issues.