Joho: Why I Was Out of Kenya for over a Month

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has come out to explain his long stay overseas that saw him receive harsh criticism from the coastal county residents and other Kenyans.

Joho, who recently returned to the country, spent more than a month in Europe and United Arab Emirates, with many Mombasa residents questioning how he managed to run the county while abroad.

However, speaking to KTN on the sidelines on the 5th Annual Devolution Conference  in Kakamega on Wednesday, the Governor dismissed those questioning his absence. 

He said: "I travelled recently for work and took a vacation ... I had been travelling way before I became a politician."

Critics mounted pressure in the flamboyant Governor to halt his “honeymoon” overseas and return to serve residents. Joho noted that his absence didn't in any way, affect the operations of the county, since there is a competent team in place to run county business.

"I was not missing but away for other matters. During this time, I had a functioning government ... I have competent teams. We have structures that work [whether you're there or not]."

He added: "If anything, we are allowed to take holidays at times. We are not only politicians but also humans who are allowed to take holidays ones in a while," he said. "... and I thank God that I am blessed enough to pay for my travels."