Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has described his renewed relationship with President Kenyatta as ‘excellent.’
Speaking in Mombasa, Joho said his relationship with the President is now at its best and that they talk frequently after burying the hatchet three months ago.
“Things will now change because of the handshake. Nowadays we talk closely with President Kenyatta; before things were different,” Joho said while speaking during the launch of Devolution Forum to showcase what his administration has achieved since 2013.
Joho, a former fierce critic of Uhuru also assured Mombasa residents that his ‘war’ with the President was over.
Their rivalry began in 2016 after government issued a directive to Likoni residents living in Waitiki land to pay Sh182,000 in land rates, which Joho opposed.
The enmity escalated further in 2017 when security officers blocked Joho from attending a presidential function in Mtongwe. President Uhuru vowed to teach Joho a lesson for sabotaging his work.
At one point, Kenyatta demanded the Governor accounts for Sh40 billion allocated to the county as equitable share and accused him of failing to develop the coastal city despite receiving the billions.
On the other hand, Joho accused Uhuru of hoodwinking coast residents by relaunching old projects in Mombasa. He said the projects had been commissioned during the grand coalition government.
In June, the two held a meeting and agreed to work together towards developing Mombasa and Kenya. Their meeting came months after the historic March 9th handshake between Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
