Defiant Coast leaders turn wrath on Regional Commissioner Nelson Marwa

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (in cap) with Coast leaders outside his Mombasa office. The leaders protested the Government’s move to withdraw his security detail. [PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD

MOMBASA: Mwita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir yesterday became the third leader from the Coast to have his bodyguards withdrawn and his gun confiscated by police within a week.

“Today morning I learnt that my only bodyguard had been withdrawn, but I am not afraid for we are all protected by God,” said Nassir.

Earlier in the week, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and Amason Jeffah Kingi were also asked to surrender their guns a day after the bruising Malindi by-election.

Yesterday, Nassir expressed his disappointment, saying security is a constitutional right for all Kenyans.

“I want to tell them that we will walk around without security and nothing will happen to us,” said Nassir in a Facebook post which he later confirmed in a telephone conversation.

Nassir said the State had ordered him to surrender a government gun he has never owned.

Reacting to this fresh twist, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi threatened to sue Coast Regional Commissioner Nelson Marwa for defamation.
Governor Kingi wrote to Marwa last evening through Steve Kithi Advocates threatening to sue the commissioner within seven days if Marwa does not offer “an unconditional public apology” for uttering a “defamatory public speech” against him.

On Thursday, Marwa told a public gathering in Lunga Lunga, Kwale that police officers attached to the two governors and Kilifi County MP Aisha Jumwa were to blame for violence in which several Jubilee MPs were beaten or evicted from polling stations during the Malindi by-election.

“I have heard that the orderlies attached to Joho and to Kingi and to Aisha are the ones who were beating people in Malindi and their bosses are just silent in Nairobi,” Marwa declared and warned that the State will act on the leaders.

He went on: “...are they gods? Why must Joho, Kingi and Aisha and their goons break the law with impunity. I expect the Inspector General of Police should have come immediately to Malindi together with his deputies to deal with the problem because [police] officers are embarrassing the government.”
Addressing Mombasa residents outside his office, Mombasa governor whose seven police guards were withdrawn on Thursday said the State was intimidating him.

He said the State had ordered him to return a gun licensed to him for the last 20 years.

“I want to tell the Government that I will not return the licensed firearm. I had it for over 20 years. I had the weapon even before I became an MP and there was no time I misused it so I don’t understand why I should return it now. If they want it let them come by force and take it from me,” he stated.

Mombasa County Assembly MCAs accused Marwa and the Jubilee administration of reversing democratic gains made over the years.
Led by Mombasa ODM chairman Mombasa County Mohammed Hatimy the leaders  accused the State of exposing Joho and Kingi to danger.

Marwa’s  could not be reached for comment on the latest developments.

Coast Regional Commander Francis Wanjohi referred The Standard on Saturday to Colonel Kimaru for comment.

Kimaru said he was unwilling to “discuss a private and personal matter” when we sought a comment on Joho’s gun claims.

Last evening Joho said he will not accept any policemen to guard his homes and offices even if the Jubilee administration reinstates them. Joho told journalists at his office in Mombasa that Jubilee is using dirty tricks to weaken the Opposition.

He said the State has tried to wreck his business by shutting down two cargo stations owned by his family.

“I am telling president Uhuru Kenyatta to take his officers. I do not need them and I will never need them. I want to tell Kenyans that the 2017 General Elections might not be fair if the harassment and intimidation continued,” said Joho.

 On Thursday morning Joho met Wanjohi following the removal of the bodyguards with the police official alleging the officers had been taken away for further training. Police headquarters issued a statement on Thursday evening suggesting that the State withdrew ten policemen from the two governors leaving them with five each. But Joho and Kingi said they had only seven and eight police guards each attached to their homes and office who were all recalled.

Joho was also flanked by Nassir, Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba, Msambweni MP Suleiman Dor, Jomvu MP Badi Twalib among other MCAs.

Mombasa MCA Hassan Faraj said Joho had a right to security as the leader of the County and that the move by the government was aimed at putting his life in great danger.