'Sultan of Mombasa' welcomed back to the country like a hero after 2 weeks in the US

Mombasa governor, Ali Hassan Joho today flew back to the country after two weeks in the United States amid pomp and colour as hundreds of Mombasa residents turn up to welcome him back.

Clad in ODM t-shirts, thousands of his supporters jammed Moi International Airport to give him a warm welcome.

“Natoa shukrani kwa wanachangamwe na wanamombasa kuja hapa leo kutupokea” Joho said to a thunderous applause.

Translated: ‘I want to thank all residents of Changamwe and Mombasa for turning up in large numbers to welcome us’

Business at the airport came to a standstill with police having a rough time controlling the exited crowd who blew Vuvuzelas and chanted songs before the governor touched down at 10am.

After landing, joho made stop overs rallies at Changamwe before heading for Mikindani, Tudor, Bamburi Mwisho and Frere Town where he is expected to hold a rally.

During his tour, Joho met with former US ambassador to Kenya, Johnnie Carson, who is now a senior advisor at the United States Institute of Peace, and also hold a round-table meeting with senior program officers working closely with Mombasa and other key cities.

Later on the charismatic governor met with Kenyans living in the diaspora e.g. members of the Kisii and Somali communities in Minnesota, and engaged Kenyans on issues related to their lives in the US and their take on current affairs in Kenya.

Joho right hand man, nominated MCA Mohamed Hatimy who is the acting county speaker made a clarion call to residents of Mombasa on Friday to turn up in large numbers to welcome their governor back home.

He has been the one running the show in the absence of the governor and political analysts see him as the power behind the throne.

The ‘Sultan of Mombasa’ whose sojourn in the United States left a lull in the Coast politics, is expected to re-energise debate in a region that has become a battleground for two top coalitions ahead of the August 8 polls.