Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho on Monday narrowly escaped death after his vehicle was shot at in Migori where he had visited accompanied by Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir.
The incident happened when supporters of Governor Okoth Obado clashed with supporters of governor aspirant Ochillo Ayacko.
The bullet hit Joho’s bodyguard on the left leg and he is receiving treatment at a city hospital where he was airlifted. One supporter was also shot during the fracas.
”the governor just “cheated” death. This was an assassination attempt and they were out to kill the governor,” ….“The car was shot at three times and it is by the Grace of God that we survived that attempt on our lives.” Mvita MP Abdulswamad told the star on phone.
Abdulswamad blamed the attack on the rising political temperatures, and dismissed claims of bad blood between Obado and Joho. Obado criticised the team for visiting Migori unannounced to endorse Junet and Ayacko ahead of the April 19 primaries.
Earlier, police had to fire in the air several times after two groups of youth one supporing Obado and the other supporting Suna East MP Mohammed engaged in fights.
Tension has been high since Sunday night, when an unknown person threw a petrol bomb at the new Migori county office that was to be opened on Monday.
By the time of going to press, angry youths demonstrated in Migori town against Obado.