Omar Hassan claims Hassan Joho has 35 armed men

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar has raised the red flag over misuse of firearms by licensed holders in the county, saying the trend poses a serious security threat ahead of the General Election.

Mr Omar, who is eyeing the governor’s seat, said on Tuesday that there should be a thorough scrutiny of some of the gun owners, including powerful personalities and politicians.

He said the government should ensure that security allocated to governors and senators should not exceed one escort officer and four officers to guard their residences under guidelines issued by Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet.

“Any allocation in excess of these provision must have a reasonable justification as to the specific threat and circumstances,” said Mr Omar, who also dismissed as diversionary tactics the outcries that followed the withdrawal Governor Hassan Joho's bodyguards.

GOVERNOR'S 'ARMOURY'

He claimed that contrary to the guidelines, Mr Joho “is usually surrounded by 35 armed men’’ including police officers and private licensed gun holders, a situation he likened to "a police station and armoury”.

“Every time he moves around, there are people with 35 guns loaded with a total of 500 rounds of ammunition. That is an armoury. Only the President and his Deputy can match him in terms of such numbers.

"If he thinks he is under threat by supporting his party leader … Raila Odinga himself has only four escort officers. Why move around with a whole police station… I don’t need a police station around me,” Mr Omar said at a news conference at his Renaissance Centre office in Mombasa.

'RUBBISH AND POLITICS'

But the Wiper secretary-general called for the immediate reinstatement of security officers withdrawn from Mr Joho and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi.

In a quick rejoinder, Governor Joho's Communications Director Richard Chacha dismissed as “rubbish and politics” Mr Omar’s claims that the county boss is guarded by 35 armed men.

“The governor has only five security officers, who have since been withdrawn and he is also licensed to [carry] a gun, which everyone has a right to seek,” Mr Chacha said.

He added: “Do Mr Joho’s friends have nothing to do other than surround him everywhere he goes? He does not need all those armed people around him.

"He cycles to Kisauni without bodyguards and plays beach football without them. Let [Mr Omar] sell his agenda rather than discussing Governor Joho every time.”