Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho on Monday termed himself an influential person by virtue of his good relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Mr Joho, who is seemingly outshining other politicians in the coastal region, described himself as influential when he was given the chance to speak to coastal residents before the president during the conference.
At a function in Liwatoni, the two could not hide their camaraderie, with President Kenyatta giving the governor a listening ear.
He bragged about how he helped Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, who got stuck in Italy after his passport was stolen, to get temporary travel documents.
“Mr president, an old person can also lose his passport. That is what happened to my colleague. But being influential and because I am sitting next to the president, I used the opportunity to call the Foreign Affairs ministry. I told the ministry to find the governor and make sure he found his way back home,” he said.
Amid claps and cheer, he went on to say, “I am next to the president here. That means I am influential, so can’t I help my colleague to get his travel documents to return home?”
It was yesterday that the president went to Liwatoni in the county and commissioned the Kenya Coast Guard Service for the protection of Kenya’s resources. He was pictured with leaders including Deputy President William Ruto, Tourism minister Najib Balala and Governor Joho.
President Kenyatta and Mr Joho were once foes who tore into each other publicly.
In Liwatoni and during a Jumuiya ya Kaunti Za Pwani Conference at Pride Inn Hotel, which also took place on Monday, however, they exchanged pleasantries and cracked jokes, a demonstration of burying the hatchet.
In Liwatoni, the president showed up with Mr Joho just days after they met in Paris, France. In his address, he backed the governor’s call for seafarers to be given the recognition they deserve so they can reclaim their glory.
“Sisi tunataka kuwapa maisha mazuri ndiyo muweze kwenda kuoa, mpate bibi kama ilivyokuwa (We want to help you live better lives so you get married as was the case in the past),” he said, after Mr Joho noted that the seafarers were so powerful that families easily allowed them to marry their children.