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Monday 1 September 2014

‘Simple’ Uhuru wins Coastals’ hearts, minds


President Uhuru Kenyatta (centre) enjoys Coastal delicacies with MPs, from left, Abdulswamad Shariff (Mvita), Khatib Mwashetani (Msambweni) and Peter Shehe (Ganze) at Barka Restaurant in Mombasa on Saturday.President Uhuru Kenyatta (centre) enjoys Coastal delicacies with MPs, from left, Abdulswamad Shariff (Mvita), Khatib Mwashetani (Msambweni) and Peter Shehe (Ganze) at Barka Restaurant in Mombasa on Saturday. 
 
By Reuben Mwambingu @reubenmwambingu
The simple style which President Uhuru Kenyatta has adopted continue to win him admirers sand popularity. After pictures of him as a pallbearer at the funeral of Dr Njoroge Mungai went viral on social media last week drawing comments of admiration from thousand of Facebook users, the President was at it again this time in Mombasa at the weekend where he joined some Coast MPs for lunch at Barka Restaurant, a humble eatery in Old Town.


It is a joint popular with the average residents who normally flock there to enjoy the dishes mostly coastal foods at affordable prices. The Head of State opted to skip the lavish meal at State House and joined revellers at the restaurant in company of MPs among them the ODM rebels at the Coast including Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro, Mustafa Iddi (Kilifi South), Khatib Mwashetani (Msambweni), Masoud Mwahima (Likoni), Gonzi Rai (Kinango), Peter Shehe (Ganze) and their Mvita counterpart Abdulswamad Shariff.
In what appears to be a tactful move to secure a strong political base at the Cord-dominated Coast, it was evident that Uhuru was relishing every moment with the rebel legislators who have already declared their unwavering stand to support the Jubilee administration in their quest for development at the Coast.
The President shared a light moment with the Coast leaders as the coastal dishes were being served at the restaurant. But it was the resident’s gesture to casually interact with the MPs at the restaurant that drew huge attention of residents and social media.
Photos posted on Facebook showed Uhuru using his hands to take his meal, maintaining the typical Swahili culture at the Coast. And the reactions on his official Facebook page where the photos were posted could tell how Kenyans were impressed by the humility.
“Mr President at Barka! Our next door restaurant? Kweli nyenyekea Mungu akuinui (Sure humble yourself and God will lift you up). I hate politics but officially My President has won my heart!,”commented Lady Miriti on Uhuru Kenyatta Facebook.“ “Keeping it traditional. Mr President, eating with his hands,enjoying the meal with his peeps. That’s how you enjoy perfect company and good food…
Some frots makes the party even better. Be blessed Mr President with a long life and good health,” posted Teddy Kariuki. Evans Onsongo said: “These things make Uhuru likable. Casual with Kenyans, likely to be most popular President in Africa, good thing popular presidents get re-elected regardless of policy. They defy public opinion.”
A very strong link between juniors and the senior, working as a system, said Felix Njoroge. Apart from the simple lunch, the President also went to Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach where he had a brief chat with the public including beach operators (beach boys).

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