Accept cohesion

By Tobby Otum

Those eying the Mombasa gubernatorial seat must embrace cohesiveness among people from different faiths to succeed in the race.

Mombasa governor Hassan Ali Joho challenged those who want to succeed him to carry the burden of cohesion exiting in the county community.

He defended his trend of bringing cohesion among the different communities which he said he has never taken for granted.

“Those who have the ambition to succeed me during the 2022 general elections must borrow a leaf from my leadership style,” he said.

Joho lauded the county residents who have co-existed as one community saying he has learned from them.

He spoke during the lighting of this year’s Christmas tree at a ceremony held outside the governor’s office in Mombasa county.

The governor said the county is cosmopolitan and accommodates everyone irrespective of their religious beliefs and tribe.

Joho who was accompanied by area MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir and his Jomvu counterpart Badi Twalib regretted that the lighting of this year’s Christmas tree is taking place when the country is struggling with measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

He reminded the forum he lost colleagues and friends who succumbed to the virus in recent days.

“We still have patients who are admitted at various health centres who are under observation for the deadly disease,” he disclosed.

The county boss urged religious leaders to dedicate their time during this year’s festivities to pray for the county at this time of the pandemic.

Joho said the country needs intervention to overcome the challenge it is facing of the spread of the virus.

He said he is optimistic next year’s celebrations will take place under a different environment free from the threat of the virus.

“There will be need to revisit the celebrations next year so that they can be done properly as the world is struggling to get a vaccine for the virus,” he pointed out.