Uhuru brings Mombasa to a halt as he walks into hotel, excites residents (Video)

Mombasa town came to standstill on Thursday when President Uhuru Kenyatta casually walked into Barka restaurant within the CBD to enjoy a light lunch.

Dressed in a blue shirt and black pants, Uhuru is seen coming out of Barka Hotel in Mombasa town, a Swahili restaurant famed for its mouth-watering biryani.

Shortly after, a crowd was forming outside, with everyone beckoning to shake the hand of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

Chants like “Wewe ndio baba, utaongoza miaka yote and utatawala mpaka waseme basi,” (loosely translated to mean, you are our leader and will rule until we say enough) are heard filling the air.

Eager residents are seen fighting for Uhuru’s attention, with some requesting for selfies and photos with the president.

He manages to greet a few as the tune “handshake Uhuru” fills the air.

However, his security detail, who are on high alert did not allow anyone to take pictures as can be seen from footage obtained by Standard Digital.

He signals his usual thumps up to those he cannot reach.

The president, possibly taking a detour of Mombasa town was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries and Governors in the Thursday afternoon saunter.  

Among them were Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, Governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Mwangi wa Iria (Murang’a) and Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga).

Queried on their mission in town, Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria said: “Ni mambo ya kushauriana tu, kuguzia mambo kidogo tukianza mwaka (We accompanied the president to discuss a few things as we enjoyed lunch).”

The president has been holed up in the coastal city for at least two weeks, where he has been conducting official state business from.

It is where he also addressed the nation on Tuesday, when he made a mini cabinet reshuffle.