Joho Responds to President Uhuru's Warning on Secession Crusaders

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi have dared President Kenyatta to arrest them over their call for secession.

On Thursday, President Uhuru warned Governors and opposition leaders calling for breakaway, stating that government will jealousy guard its territorial integrity.

“We will not entertain any language, any action that threaten our territorial integrity,” he told governors and their deputies at Diani Reef Hotel in Kwale.

However, speaking on Sunday during the the inauguration of Coast people’s assembly convention at Sun n Sand Beach Resort in Kilifi, Joho said he would not be cowed by threats and dared the president to arrest him.

“Only a fool can ignore this talk. You cannot speak of threatening the territorial integrity forgetting to touch on the dignity of human being. We will not stop talking until our people get their rights,” said Mr Joho.

Kilifi Governor Kingi said the threats by the President will not deter them from pushing for separation, noting that his father, former President Jomo Kenyatta, issued the same warning when the talk on self determination came up during his reign.

“What we heard from him (Mr Kenyatta) is exactly what his father did. Different words with the same meaning. This struggle is not new...” said Mr Kingi.

He added: “I told Joho that secession talk is not going to be based on television shows. We have gone silent because we want to bring forward something tangible when we finish our plans."