MP accuses Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho of neglecting his duties

Nyali MP Hezron Awiti. A supremacy war has erupted at the Mombasa County Assembly pitting two camps, one aligned to Governor Hassan Joho and the other to the Nyali MP, splitting the legislative unit comprising of all elected ODM members, down the middle. FILE PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Joho’s aides have dismissed these claims, branding the first time MP as a “heckler” who “makes noise” at press conferences.
  • The MP also alleged that millions of shillings collected as parking fees had not been accounted for.

A fresh controversy has broken out between Nyali MP Hezron Awiti and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, with the former accusing the county boss of being an absentee leader and misusing funds on trips abroad.

Addressing journalists at Mamba Village on Thursday, Mr Awiti said the governor was making too many trips, leaving the county without leadership.

He said when the governor goes out, he leaves the county under individuals who were not elected by the people of Mombasa.

“There is no way the county can continue being run unprofessionally. Who does the governor leave in office when he globe-trots? We want him to be here to run the office and if he is not up to the task he should pack and go,” he said. Mr Joho has been in the US for the past week, just after he travelled to Italy.

But Mr Joho’s aides have dismissed these claims, branding the first time MP as a “heckler” who “makes noise” at press conferences and never relies on material evidence to back his claims.

Mr Mohamed Hatimy, county chairman of the Finance, Budget and Appropriations committee, told off Mr Awiti, saying his accusations were unwarranted.

“Awiti is a heckler who likes making noise for no apparent reason.

“As far as management of the county is concerned, there are systems that allow seamless operations even when the governor is away,” he said.

This is not the first time Mr Awiti is hitting out at the governor, with the most recent being the handling of money collected from traders at the Kongowea market.

The MP said little was being ploughed back to maintain the facility and keep it clean and criticised the county for planning to hike fees charged on those running businesses there.

During the press conference, the MP also alleged that millions of shillings collected as parking fees had not been accounted for.