Playing with live wire: Top Jubilee leader 'bullying' Governor Joho over Mombasa hotel construction

Beneath the war of between Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and the government lies ‘tumbo-cracy’ and the economic interests of a top Jubilee leader, The Nairobian can exclusively reveal.

According to our investigations, the Jubilee top dog has been incensed by Joho for ordering a halt to the construction of his multi-million shilling tourist hotel in Mombasa for flouting stipulated rules. The Jubilee leader has been using his exalted position as one of the most powerful politicians in the land to raise issues with Joho’s wealth, besides influencing the closure of Joho’s family businesses and raiding the governor’s homes in a desperate bid to paint the governor as a lawbreaker.

According to a letter seen by The Nairobian, Mombasa County has halted the construction of Dolphin Hotel for breaching regulations regarding disposal of waste from the construction site in Shanzu. The order followed complaints from neighbours as the contractor was dumping debris on a public road.

 The construction debris dumped on a public road that prompted residents to complain

Dolphin Hotel is a franchise of African Safari Club which has been sold to the senior Jubilee politician. The bold move by Joho to stop construction or repair works has fuelled the tension between the governor and national government.

Joho has been on the receiving end since his face-off with President Uhuru Kenyatta, in which he accused the head of State of taking credit for a footbridge project funded by Mombasa County and donors.

The Jubilee administration and supporters saw the challenge as disrespectful to Uhuru. The governor’s security detail was immediately withdrawn under unclear circumstances before Ibrahim Kharti, his close ally, was arrested and detained at Urban Police Station.

Police in Mombasa were dodgy on who gave them orders to withdraw Joho’s security. A senior officer distanced himself from the embarrassing fiasco advising The Nairobian to seek answers from superiors in Nairobi.

Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa says Joho and Kharti are a security threat. He has linked Kharti to drug trafficking, car import syndicate and illegal firearm ownership.

Following a public backlash, Joho’s security was reinstated but he declined the officers assigned to him, claiming they were sent to spy and plant firearms on him.

“People have been asking why I rejected the officers sent to guard me. It was because I am privy to credible intelligence that they were sent to do two things. First, to sneak illegal weapons into my residence. Secondly, monitor my movements and listen in on my communication. However, God has helped us to uncover that plot in advance,” he told a public function on January 16.

It is understood that the furious Jubilee politician is exerting pressure on national government officials to ensure that construction works at the hotel proceed uninterrupted. They have been threatened with the sack or transfer if they fail to tame Joho’s rising political star.

A letter to the contractor, Avco Agencies Limited, warned that county officials would move to the site to stop the construction if the orders were ignored.

“The development of the land has been carried out without the grant of permission. You are required to immediately cease the undertaking of any works and or construction incidental to the approval,” reads the letter.

The county has also instructed the contractor to remove all construction materials and machinery from the site, warning that, “Failure to do that, the enforcement officers shall move in and execute such requirement without further notification made to you.”