Ali Hassan Joho is the immediate former governor of Mombasa County and the deputy party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Early life and Marriage
The dapper former governor was born on February 26, 1976.
He was until February 2022 married to Madina Giovanni Fazzini with whom he shares two children; a boy and a girl.
In a previous interview, Joho revealed that his father used to work at the Kenya Ports Authority. He has an elder brother named Abubakar Joho and two sisters.
Education
Joho attended Tom Mboya Primary School, but due to a lack of school expenses, his schooling was cut short for a year. He continued his education at Serani Secondary School, and when he was in Form 3, he worked odd jobs to supplement his income.
When Somalia’s civil war broke out, the Governor went to work at the port, carrying bags on his back, and eventually discovered new ways to make a livelihood. He would assist them in the sale of a variety of things, transforming him into a skilled salesperson.
“I used to carry heavy sacks whenever goods entered the port. I remember that is how I met Somalis who used to import stuff to Kenya and promised myself that I would never be employed,” he said.
Joho added that his principal understood when he went to school looking shabby.
“From school, I used to work. At some point, I even had some kind of agreement with the principal because my background is different, probably from all the other kids here, so you must allow me space to be able to do certain things. Like don’t judge me with my uniform, if I come sometimes dirty, just understand,” he added.
He is claimed to have attended Kampala University and subsequently Gretsa University in Thika for his university education.
Political Career
In 2004, his political career got off to a rocky start. Following the death of Kisauni MP and Local Government minister Karisa Maitha, he ran for the parliamentary seat on a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ticket.
Joho was lured into active politics at the time by his elder brother, a middle-level manager at Prima Pest and Bins Ltd, a family waste collecting firm.
The political newcomer was defeated by Narc’s Anania Mwaboza in a bruising by-election.
This failure, however, did not dampen his political spirit. Joho was back on the ballot in 2007, this time on an LDP ticket, and was elected Kisauni MP and Assistant Minister in the Grand Coalition government.
The Governorship was formed by the 2010 Constitution, and Joho saw an opportunity when former Mvita MP and Tourism Minister Najib Balala defected from ODM to Jubilee in 2013.
He ran for and was elected the first Governor of Mombasa County.
In 2017, he successfully defended his seat.
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