President Uhuru Kenyatta at a past event. Photo/ monitor.co.ke
The Jubilee government risks losing on the Somali and Muslim votes in the August 8 polls over its ongoing wars with Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, a political analyst has said.According to Peter Ngure, a Kiambu based political analyst and lawyer, the controversial feuds between Joho and the Jubilee administration is likely to deny President Uhuru Kenyatta the Muslim votes in the August general election.According to the analyst, Jubilee has to trade with care as it probes Joho over various criminal allegations.Ngure notes that Joho’s popularity is rising continuing to rise at a fast rate as the government engages him in public wars.“The issues between Jubilee government and Governor Joho could cost Jubilee’s quest for votes especially at the Coast region,” he said.Last week, a section of Muslim leaders under the Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council criticized Jubilee government over the manner it was treating Governor Joho.The Muslim leaders accused the government of frustrating Joho’s work as an elected governor.Governor Joho is being probed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) over alleged forgery of academic certificates.The Mombasa Governor is also being investigated by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over alleged related tax offenses.Joho claimed the State is harassing him in a bid to lock him out of the August polls.A section of opposition leaders led by ODM leader Raila Odinga have since warned Jubilee against harassing the Mombasa Governor.