Nyali Member of Parliament (MP) Mohammed Ali tore into Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho in a hard-hitting rant when he issued bursary cheques to needy students in his constituency on Saturday, February 22.
A vocal critic of Joho, Ali decried the reported negative impact of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) on the Mombasa economy as he accused Joho of failing to provide leadership.
Ali challenged Mombasa residents to fight for their rights, telling them not to be afraid of the governor and his administration arguing that they were only capable of issuing empty threats.
"Our problem is stupid, unmarried men who just follow others, waiting for hand-outs instead of waking up to fight against bad leadership for development to be achieved.
"They say, you know the governor will punish us. A whole man, who will punish you? Why haven't they punished me?
"Those people are all talk. They make threats but they do can do nothing at all. Don't be afraid to fight for your rights," the lawmaker thundered.
He told residents to approach the police if they found themselves in trouble while making their voices heard on issues affecting them.
Ali further warned his constituents that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) fronted by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga would 'take food from their plates'.
He cited the proposal by some serving governors to create a third-tier of government, describing it as a burden that the initiative sought to impose on Kenyans.
"BBI is not meant to unite Kenyans. It is meant to create positions for the rich to continue eating. BBI is a union of conmen. If BBI is meant to unite Kenyans, then how has it failed to unite three people; Uhuru, Raila and Ruto [Deputy President William Ruto]?," he posed.
Speaking at the same forum, Ali addressed his relationship with Ruto as he maintained that leaders should not be victimised for associating with the second-in-command.
"If Ruto is my friend, why don't you also go and find your own friend?
"Isn't there someone who is Uhuru's or Raila's friend? Why can't everybody stay with their friend as long as we work? My friend has been attacked in the papers and from all corners, please leave him alone," he maintained.
Watch a video of part of Ali's speech below:
