Jubilee won’t get any vote in Coast, declares Joho

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho addressed a mammoth rally at the same venue where President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto held a meeting last Saturday and declared Coast was still an ODM zone.

"President Kenyatta will not get any votes at the coast," Mr Joho said at Voi Stadium, Taita Taveta County.

Mr Joho, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and Taita Taveta's John Mruttu said just like in 2013 when the Coast residents voted overwhelmingly for ODM, locals will reject the Jubilee administration in August polls.

The three governors said ODM was the biggest partner in Nasa due to its huge support in the country and that it's leader Raila Odinga should thus be the outfit’s presidential candidate.

Although ODM is in Nasa, they said, Coast is the party’s stronghold and that the region would benefit immediately Mr Odinga enters State House.

Mr Joho reiterated said despite threats and intimidation from President Kenyatta, he will keep on questioning his leadership and fighting for rights of locals.

"I will always keep the government on its toes," Mr Joho said.

He said he will respond to Jubilee leadership "rough game" on him in a similar way.

He said he will not follow President Kenyatta while doing Jubilee Party affairs, at his home or in State House but will always be there on issues involving his people.

The ODM deputy Party Leader demanded that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) names the company managing its servers and soft wares for public scrutiny to avoid rigging in August elections.

"If they steal we are ready to deal with them," he said.

He demanded that IEBC publishes the voter register for scrutiny.

UHURU APOLOGY

Mr Joho said President Kenyatta should apologise for lying to Kenyans over amount of money given to Mombasa and Kilifi counties from the equitable share.

"The money is not from Uhuruto company but from tax-payers," he said, adding that even the Jubilee administration receives trillions of shillings from the public coffer.

He said Mombasa county only got Sh16 billion in last four years and not Sh40 billion as claimed by the President.

Mr Joho said even Mr Kingi had written to the National Treasury demanding Sh13 billion shortfall from the money President Kenyatta said had been given to coast's most populous county.

Mr Kingi said the many road projects connecting Kenya and Tanzania being launched by President Kenyatta were initiated by him when he was East African Community minister and were funded by African Development Bank.