Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho Extends Friendly Invite to President Uhuru

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho now says he's nothing against President Kenyatta and has welcomed him to Mombasa.

Speaking in Mombasa after holding a closed-door meeting with Kanu party leader and Baringo senator Gideon Moi, who paid him a courtesy call at his office on Thursday, Joho said the President is free to visit the coastal city anytime and will welcome him once he tours the area.

"Initially we used to be sceptical of visits by President Kenyatta in this region, particularly in Mombasa. But now we are looking forward to his visits in Mombasa because we want to continue building bridges," he said on Thursday.

Joho has been a fierce critic of President Kenyatta and Jubilee administration, which saw him blocked by police from a function where the president commissioned the new Mtongwe ferry in March 2017.

Last year, Governor Joho also attempted to hold a parallel campaign rally to that of President Kenyatta’s at Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa, but he was denied a permit.

"The focus is to better the lives of wananchi because that is why we are all elected after all," Joho added.

Joho’s gesture comes hours after President Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto alongside Opposition leader Raila Odinga and Wiper chief Kalonzo Musyoka publicly embraced and apologised to each other during the National Prayer Breakfast held at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, on Thursday morning.