President Kenyatta, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho Bury the Hatchet

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has pledged to work with President Kenyatta after the two formally buried the hatchet on Thursday.

The two shared a podium at Miritini where President Uhuru commissioned the first phase of the Sh11.5 billion iconic Dongo Kundu bypass.

Their rivalry started in 2016 after the Governor accused the President of taking credit for donor-funded projects in Mombasa, with their rivalry intensifying during campaigns for last year's elections.

However, on arrival in Mombasa, the Head of State was received by Governor Joho and the two happily shook hands.

“Those things don’t help. They only bring problems,” said the President in reference to the bitter fall-out between him and Joho.

“We must serve Kenyans equally, but we will only do so if we as leaders can sit down and talk out our issues first,” he added. 

On his part, Joho said he will work with President Uhuru and the Jubilee administration for the benefit of coast residents.

“We will work with you; we will work with your government to uplift the lives of the people of Mombasa and Kenya. At first, we used to speak at each other. Now we want to speak with one another so we can find solutions to our problems,” said Joho.

Last year, Joho was twice blocked by armed police officers from attending the re-opening of the Mtongwe ferry services and during the commissioning of the Standard Gauge Railway passenger train presided over by President Kenyatta in Mombasa.

On a lighter note, the ODM leader made reference to the two incidents when he met the President on Thursday.

“At first I was scared that I was being followed by the General Service Unit officers on my way here. I only came to know that they were actually facilitating my movement to this place,” he said amid laughter.