The government has denied claims by members of the county assembly of Mombasa that it is planning to 'assassinate or stage a mysterious disappearance of Governor Hassan Joho'.
A senior official, who did not want to be named, said the government cannot go to that extent.
The alleged assassination, according to Tudor MCA Patrick Simuyu, will be conducted in a terror-attack style.
During Tuesday’s afternoon sitting, Kipeveu MCA Ibrahim Kondo said Mombasa residents are on high alert, while his Old Town counterpart Mofard Amur indicated Joho may be slayed anytime.
Amur said: "Look at what happened to JM Kariuki, Robert Ouko, Sorenei and Bishop Alexander Muge. They faced the same tribulations the governor is facing. What was the end result of their trials and persecutions under the hands of the former states? History speaks for itself."
But the official said the claim is too extreme.
“The government cannot resort to such unorthodox means. If they (assembly) feel his life is in danger, then the governor should request for tighter security. We respect yesterday’s court decision (not to arrest him),” the official said.
He said those making the wild allegation should swear an affidavit in court saying: "MCAs can say anything."
The official also raised concern why the speaker allowed such allegations to be discussed.
But yesterday, the speaker, Thadius Rajwayi, cautioned members against making such claims.
On Tuesday evening, however, the High Court stopped Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery from arresting Joho or withdrawing his firearms.
Joho, through the county's director of communication and public relations officer Richard Chacha, urged members to tone down.
"We don’t want to go that direction," he told the Star on phone on Tuesday.
Amur said Joho's popularity at the national politics is gaining traction and he is a threat to the government.
"They can do anything to silence him. What I have witnessed since I was young is that those leaders who opposed the government of the day and carried a lot of clout were either silenced or killed using state machinery," he said.
The House also said there was possibility of plans to overthrow Joho from his throne.
Amur said if Joho will not be killed, he will be made to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, which includes symptoms such as flashbacks, severe anxiety, nightmares, depression and memory lapses.
He said Joho's position as ODM deputy leader makes him a national figure, and if anything happens to him, ODM followers will retaliate.
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MAUREEN MUDI
Joho’s troubles started in 2014 when an intelligence report was released and shared between CIA and Kenya NIS, linking Joho, his family and the Akashas' to massive drug trafficking and illegal activities at the Coast.
During President Uhuru Kenyatta’s stay in Coast between December and January, Joho, during a function attended by Uhuru, accused the president of not acknowledging him despite being in his county. Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko, in a public spate with Joho, accused the governor of trying to ‘blackmail’ the government.
His CFSs were shut down early this year despite obtaining court orders barring KPA and KRA from doing so. Some containers with contraband goods were found at the CFSs.
Joho, shortly after the March 7 Malindi by election, had his bodyguards withdrawn and firearms assigned to him revoked. He has since successfully challenged the order in court to surrender his guns and the state has allowed him to have his guards back.