President Uhuru Kenyatta has dismissed reports he was angry with Governor Hassan Joho during his Mombasa tour on March 13.
The two leaders have been embroiled in a tussle over development projects in the region, the latest being the relaunched Mtongwe ferry.
Their exchange culminated into Uhuru asking Joho to stop following him as though he was his wife.
More on this: [VIDEO] Joho barred from attending Uhuru's Mtongwe ferry launch
Also see: [AUDIO] Stop following me like I'm your wife, Uhuru tells Joho at Mtongwe ferry launch
But in an interview on Citizen TV on Monday, the President said he was just doing his job as the head of state.
"I have a right to visit any part of the country without seeking permission from anyone," he said.
Regarding what has been termed an outburst of anger, he said: "Hiyo si ukweli. Mimi sina hasira hata kidogo. Mimi sikuwa na hasira Mombasa. Lakini inafika wakati lazima useme ukweli wako (It is not true. I am not angry. I was not angry in Mombasa. But a time comes when one has to tell the truth)."
Uhuru saidJoho is answerable to the people of Mombasa but that he also has his responsibilities as Kenya's leader.
"Ukiwa na mwelekeo au lengo, na mwingine aje na yake ambayo huhusiani nayo, lazima watu waelezane ukweli (If two people have unrelated visions, the people must be told the truth)," he said.
The President defended the government’s decision to bar Joho from attending the reopening of Mtongwe ferry that he presided over.
The Governor claimed at that time that he had been put under house arrest pending Uhuru's departure from Mombasa.
Read: Uhuru and Joho: Who is lying about Sh40 billion Mombasa allocation?
But Uhuru said: "Mtu amekuja akasema lazima aje function yangu na mimi nimesema 'hii haikuhusu, wewe kaa kando, mimi wache nipate nafasi yangu ya kueleza wananchi vile nimewatendea. Wewe baadaye utapata nafasi yako uje uwaeleze'."
(Someone comes and says he must attend your function and you say 'it does not concern you, step aside and allow me the chance to tell the people what I can do for them. You will get your chance to speak to them later'."
"Lakini kama unafikiria eti lengo lako ni kujigamba eti unaweza kusisimama mbele ya rais na matusi, siwezi kubali (But if your mission is to chest-thump and oppose the President...I cannot allow that)."
Uhuru further said relaunching Mtongwe ferry was the mandate of the national government.
"Jamani, ni nini hapo nimeenda kuzindua ambayo si shughuli ya kitaifa (For goodness sake, what did I do that was not the responsibility of the national government)?" he asked.
Part two of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution states that counties are in charge of ferries and harbours but this does not include the regulation of local and international shipping.
Following the ferry services launch and Uhuru's criticism, Joho hit back saying he will follow his people "whether Uhuru Kenyatta likes it or not".
"Mimi najua pale unaishi...siwezi kuja, sitaki kuja ... mimi najua penye kuna ikulu...siwezi kuja, sitaki kuja ... lakini mahali penye kuna wanainchi wanaonipigia kura kama governor wao nitawatumikiwa (I know where you live but I don't want to go there... I know where State House is but I don't want to go there...but I will be of service where people who voted for me are)," he said.
He said this was how he would operate and that he did not care about those who did not agree with him.
[AUDIO] I will follow my people whether you like it or not, Joho tells Uhuru
Four opposition MPs later criticised the President for his latest display of “anger, emotion and ignorance” in handling crucial national matters.
Busia woman representative Florence Mutua and MPs Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba), Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) and Geoffrey Odanga (Matayos) are among those who defended the Governor against the outbursts.
More on this: President’s anger outburst shows he is weak – MPs
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