Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has reached out to Coast ODM rebels to stem the Jubilee onslaught. Sources said Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro, Lunga Lunga's Khatib Mwashetani, nominated Senator Emma Mbura, Kilifi South MP Mustafa Iddi and Malindi hopeful Philip Charo met Joho at the Tamarind Hotel on Wednesday morning.
The meeting took place moments after Joho posted several tweets criticising the government for not inviting the county to the State House Tourism Summit. Joho's elder brother Abu is said to have tried to reconcile the politicians and get them to iron out their differences. The rebels are campaigning for Jubilee.
Mbura denied the meeting took place. But the Star has learnt that key issues discussed included setting a good example as leaders, respecting authority, mature and progressive politics, and a ceasefire. Mbura said they just assembled at the venue to await President Uhuru Kenyatta's arrival. She said through Mung'aro, they agreed they should not fight each other, but respect each other's decisions, especially the fact that some of them are no longer in Cord.
In one of the photos taken of the meeting, Joho is seen seated leaning back and listening to the rest, while his brother chairs the session, based on his sitting position.
The meeting could explain Joho's reconciliatory tone when he addressed traders at Kongowea market later in the day. The market was opened by Uhuru. “We must respect each other to serve our people better. In the end, it is the people who will decide what they want,” Uhuru said.
Joho said, “We are not in competition with the national government, since both the national and county government have played complimentary roles in renovating the Kongowea market.”
This could signal an imminent ceasefire over the way the politicians have been throwing salvos at each other, especially after Jubilee lost in the March 7 Malindi by-election, which was characterised by claims of voter buying and intimidation, bribery and violence.
