Mombasa governor Hassan Joho has warned his political rivals to separate his business and family from politics.

Joho said that he has been in business since he was 19 and has served Mombasa residents diligently in his capacity both as governor and MP ever since he joined politics.

The governor stated that together with members of parliament from Mombasa he agitated against the transfer of port services from Mombasa to Naivasha.

He added that it was also through his efforts that the directive issued by the Transport and Infrustructure Ministry to transport all container cargo via the Standard Guarge Railway was reverted.

Joho was speaking in Misufini village in Jomvu Sub-county where he officiated a function to issue title deeds to residents of the Misufini Settlement Scheme.

He was accompanied Jomvu MP Badi Twalib, Abdulswamad Nassir of Mvita and Likoni MP Mishi Mboko together with a host of Members of County Assembly of Mombasa led by deputy speaker Fadhili Makarani.

“Did we not go to statehouse with your MPs to agitate for Lorries to be allowed to transport cargo to Nairobi? Are you not seeing that lorries are now transporting cargo to Nairobi?” asked Joho.

“This was as a result of our negotiations between us and the president,” he added.

Sometime this year, reports emerged that a firm associated with Joho and his family had earned two lucrative multi-billion deals port deals.

The firm had earned exclusive rights to operate the Nairobi Inland Cargo Terminal from the Kenya Railways Corporation, it had also been licensed by the Kenya Ports Authority to develop a second grain bulk handling facility at the Mombasa port before the decision was revoked by the high court.

“Separate my business from my politics, yes I am doing business and I thank God that i'm a succesful businessman but I have also been leading my people with loyalty and have been diligent and faithful to the people of Mombasa,” said Joho.

Governor Joho also weighed in on the government directive that required importers with KRA pins and addresses registered upcountry to clear their imports from Nairobi.

The issue had caused a standoff between the importers and the Kenya Port Authorities with reports emerging that the stalemate had caused congestion of containers at the port.

“Let KRA be reminded that Kenyans have the right to do business from any part of the country, the KRA pin registration location and address should not confine you to do business within a specific region, people are expanding,” said Joho.