Mombasa Cement Managing Director, Hasmukh Patel, on Friday, May 26, maintained that he would not remove sculptures erected in the county over a reported fallout with Governor Abdulswamad Nassir.
Through his representatives, the tycoon added that he had mended his relationship with the governor after the county's administration changed the model of philanthropic work.
Patel - who helped transform the Ksh700 million Kibarani Recreational Park from a dumpsite - added that both parties had resolved their concerns.
He indicated that unidentified people with selfish interests blew the reported fallout out of proportion.
The tycoon had allegedly begun removing sculptures from the Makupa Roundabout and other roads to Kilifi County.
"We have no problem with the county government. The governor has been a friend of the boss since time immemorial.
"Small issues like this will be sorted out. No sculpture put up by the company will be removed," Patel's representative clarified.
He also assured the locals that the company would continue its philanthropic work, urging residents to call off a planned demonstration scheduled for early June 2023.
"We have been taken through the proposal by the governor who wants the donation process to be seamless. Our philanthropic work will return soon," the representative added.
The fallout between the tycoon and Nasssir emerged after the county government set out rules to be followed by philanthropists when making donations.
Governor Nassir intimated that he was not opposed to philanthropic work but wanted the donations to be streamlined to benefit more residents.
Patel's donations to various county hospitals were at the centre of the fallout.
“I cannot have 42 hospitals and every hospital is writing to donors begging for help. We cannot have a system that lacks discipline.
"We will have order and I will not back down on that,” Nassir explained.
