Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho on Wednesday hinted at calling for a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta, to deliver him a message.

Joho who spoke when he made a stopover at Kondele in Kisumu to address residents in a bid to popularize his bid for 2022’s presidency, said he would rather meet the president and push for “compensation for the people who died during last years’ elections.”

This is a new turn given the relationship that has been in existence between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the governor in the recent past, especially in the run up to the elections.

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Joho and Uhuru clashed over the plan to have the inland port at Naivasha which the national government said would decongest Mombasa Port, but the governor maintained that would see hundreds of jobs lost for Mombasa residents.

In March, however, tension between Uhuru and Joho eased after Joho said he was ready to engage with the Jubilee government to serve the people of Mombasa. This was after President Uhuru held a meeting with the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is also Joho’s ODM boss.

“Raila is my party leader and he has a made a move which I believe is in the best interest of the country. As a deputy leader in ODM I side with him; I am willing to engage Jubilee government on development,” said Joho in March.

Tough message to DP Ruto

The ODM Deputy Party leader also took a swipe at Deputy President William Ruto over the controversial constitutional amendment issue which is set to create the position of Prime Minister.

The governor said that DP Ruto, who has been against the constitutional change, would not stop a people-driven change.

He added that the DP should be bold enough to accept any constitutional change, wondering why he would fear such a move yet he was seeking the presidency seat in 2022.

“There are some people who are claiming they won’t allow constitutional amendment. You can’t be longing for presidency yet you are afraid of some things. If people declare that the Constitution be changed, then nothing or nobody will stop it,” Mr Joho said.

Joho is set to have a three day tour in Kisumu with his counterpart Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o to chart the way forward on how they can work with supporters and party officials to solidify ODM’s support.

Joho has declared interest in contesting for the 2022 presidency, in which he will face DP Ruto, Kakamega’s Oparanya and Dr Alfred Mutua.