Having ascended the political ladder Hassan Joho has established a broad empire with diverse interests in a variety of fields, including environmental management, shipping and logistics and manufacturing.
The ambitious 43-year-old was born in Kisauni Mombasa on February 26, 1976, and attended Tom Mboya Primary School before attending Serani Secondary School for his KCSE.
He grew up in the Kaloleni area in Mvita constituency, raised by stepfather Mzee Khamis Mkilungi.
The youthful Governor, now in his second term in office, has attracted admiration and admonition in equal measure due to his chosen lifestyle.
This astute businessman is also known for his strong sense of style and fashion and is not afraid of embracing modernity and the latest in designer wear.
He is a flashy politician who enjoys driving his convertible Ferrari around the streets of Mombasa or staging lavish extravaganzas for the enjoyment of the people of Mombasa.
The Governor spends his free time golfing, soccer-playing, swimming, and cooking for his family.
In 2008, he founded a foundation in his name to fund social programs and projects, such as drug rehabilitation, which is a problem that many young people on the coast face.
Joho joined active politics in 2004, and became the Kisauni party chairman for the Liberal Democratic Party between 2006-2007.
It was not until the 2007 General Election, when he was overwhelmingly elected as the Kisauni parliamentary member through ODM in 2007.
He was elected as Member of Parliament for Kisauni constituency and the Assistant Minister for Transport, in 2013 he was elected as Governor of Mombasa.
He has served in a number of political roles, notably representing the Kisauni constituency since 2007. He then went on to win the fiercely disputed Mombasa gubernatorial election, becoming the city’s first governor.
Joho, along with friend-turned-enemy Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko and other politicians and businesses, was on a list of accused drug sellers. All of them deny any involvement.
While serving as a Kisauni MP in 2012, he revealed that he was on the verge of quitting politics in 2010 and 2011, when he was accused of drug dealing and land grabbing.
“It was starting to feel personal, so I decided to leave.” Some of the claims were really serious and life-altering. “My accusers tried to destroy my entire family,” Joho told a group of young businesspeople.
Joho marshalled support from all Mombasa communities to win the governor’s seat, getting 132,583 votes to arch rival Shahbal’s 94,905.
Having served for two terms as governor, Joho is now angling for a national position should Odinga, a politician he has supported all through form the next government.
“I have a duty to speak for coastal people. We must be ably represented in government when decisions are being made. All of us are heading in the same direction,” the governor told his supporters last year.
Joho’s immediate task is to help preserve ODM’s strong hold in the region, his latest political activities in different parts of the country also appear inspired by the need to determine his destiny.
Despite his success in politics, Joho’s marriage is facing hiccups after Madina Giovanni Fazzini, his first wife reportedly filed for a divorce stating that the two have little chance of resurrecting their failed marriage after 9 years of being apart.
Governor 001 and Fazzini married in February 2011, and the couple has two children, ages nine and eight.
“I am clear and unequivocal that our marriage has broken down irretrievably with no chance of revival, given we have both moved on over the years,” reads part of the documents filed in court.
Fazzini, further pointed out that after separating, Joho promptly left their matrimonial home, leaving her to take care of their two children.
Currently, Joho has agreed to grant her a divorce she sought in January 2022.
He has however expressed disapproval over a demand to provide his ex-wife with a new house as part of conditions precedent for the dissolution of their 11-year marriage.
Fazzini is said to have demanded for the house with upkeep for the two children she had with the flamboyant county chief.
“The governor agreed to continue supporting the children, but refused to approve the issue of buying a new house for the ex-wife. Joho was categorical that he will only continue supporting the family,” said the source
Joho who sent his lawyer to represent him in the case reportedly provided receipts to challenge Fazzini’s claims that he had seized supporting his children.
The children are below 18 years; therefore, they will continue being under the custody of Fazzini.