The Joho-Uhuru duel gains momentum as governor is barred from attending launch of Mtongwe ferry

 The Joho-Uhuru rivalry went a notch higher after the Mombasa Governor was barred from attending the launching of the Mtongwe ferry.

This followed an order from the office of the President who presided over the event.

Reports indicated that GSU officers raided his Nyali home before setting up police checks at every Nyali outlet in an attempt to confine him to his residential area.

But the governor who managed to get out later was dipped into hot soup when the GSU officers barricaded his convoy denying him passage across the Nyali bridge.

Further reports claimed that police officers harassed civilians, mostly Joho's supporters who raised concerns over the incident.

Speaking to the press shortly after the incursions, the deputy ODM party leader lamented saying that the Government was unfair to him.

"I don't understand why I should be blocked from attending a public event happening in my county. It was going there to represent the people of Mombasa as their governor. The police have harassed my team and me, some civilians being hacked," said Joho.

He also claimed that Coast regional coordinator Nelson Marwa had threatened some of his aides over the phone but reiterated that he will not be intimidated by such acts and swore to always state facts as they are.

President Uhuru had on Sunday in a rally at Tononoka grounds accused Hassan Joho of underperformance saying that his county is among the worst developed despite receiving Sh40 billion from the national Government.

Interestingly, Joho was denied permission to hold his own rally Sunday at Mvita, the authorities citing inadequate security personnel as the reason behind the cancellation of the meeting.

This is not the first time the two have been involved in a war of words and this incident may yet fuel the flame in their political rivalry.