A trip to Belgium for an international conference has not ended so well for a coast region governor who missed the presidential commissioning of the Coast Guard Service on Monday.
In a revelation by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, it emerged that his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi had failed to turn up for the function because he was stuck outside the country.
Joho stated that it was unfortunate that Governor Kingi missed the event because of having lost his passport in Italy and could not travel to join the region's leaders at the function.
"We have governors from the six coast region counties but I am also representing my friend Amason Kingi. It is surprising that even in this day he still lost his passport while in Italy. He has not been able to travel back," stated Governor Joho.
Upon contacting Governor Kingi's office, Kenyans.co.ke confirmed that he indeed left the country for Belgium. His office could not confirm whether the governor had lost the passport while abroad.
"The governor left the country to attend a conference in Belgium. We are expecting him back anytime from now," stated Charles Nyiro, the governor's communications director.
In a statement sent to the media on Monday afternoon, Kingi confirmed that his travelling documents were stolen in Italy.
A travelling bag was stolen on 17 November 2018 on arrival at the airport ahead of a high-level meeting he had been scheduled to attend.
"I had to report the theft to the airport police and our embassy in Rome. I am glad that the Kenyan embassy has this morning already processed my emergency travel documents," stated the Governor.
Governor Joho revealed Kingi's tribulations as he lauded the launch of the coast guard service, saying the initiative would transform the region.
"After the launch of this service, the coast will not be the same again. It has always remained to be a story from the day the idea was conceived but now it has materialised. This is real change," stated Governor Joho.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, DP William Ruto, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i, coast region governors and lawmakers also attended the event that was held at Liwatoni area in Mombasa.
The president stated that he had waited for the commissioning of the service since 2016 and hopes the initiative will boost fishing at the coast and help create jobs for the youth.
