Governor Hassan Joho, Senator Omar weather rough and tumble in Coast to hold sway in region’s politics

For a year now, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and Senator Hassan Omar have formed a formidable bond that is gradually defining the political dynamics at the Coast.

On Thursday, they were celebrating with thousands of supporters at the Mombasa Law Courts and the city’s main square after three judges threw out a case challenging the validity of the governor’s degree certificate. 

Two other governors, Hussein Dado of Tana River and Amason Kingi of Kilifi joined them. Others included Siaya Senator James Orengo, his Kilifi counterpart Stewart Madzayo as well as MPs and MCAs from Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa counties.

Also present were three of the so-called rebel CORD MPs; Mustafa Idi of Kilifi South, Khatib Mwashetani of Lunga Lunga and Kilifi County Women Representative Aisha Jumwa.

Joho and Omar’s rising influence in Coast politics is no longer in doubt. According to Omar, the striking out of the suit has strengthened the governor and united Coast leaders. However, Joho’s opponents say they are planning to appeal the ruling.

Rebellion in CORD

Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro, who has been branded the face of the anti-CORD leader Raila Odinga campaign in the region, was not in court in Mombasa but sources say he remains a Joho’s ally. Joho and Raila are close friends.

“We may have our political differences but we are in support of the governor and that is why we are here,” said Mwashetani, who added the judgement had upheld the will of the people. “We are ready to work with the governor,” he said.

Idi said Coast leaders would remain united, adding he remains Joho’s ally.

But the political friendship between Joho and Senator Omar has baffled friend and foe given that in the run up to the March 4, 2013 General Election, the two were in different camps. 

At that time, the two staunch supporters of Raila appeared to differ over ODM nominations. Omar, who was running for the Senate seat, was forced to decamp to the Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) where he joined hands with Joho’s opponent for governorship, Suleiman Shahbal.

Shahbal lost to Joho in the gubernatorial race and thereafter launched a relentless court effort to oust the governor. Omar defeated former Changamwe MP Ramadhan Kajembe in the senatorial race. There was a feeling within ODM circles that Joho and the ODM machinery in Mombasa favoured Ramadhan Kajembe for the senate seat over Omar and Eliud Mcharo for the Nyali parliamentary seat over eventual winner Hezron Awiti Bolo, who also had to decamp to WDM. Joho and Senator Omar have since put their differences aside, and are nowadays seen attending functions together which pull many local MPs. They have even styled themselves as “Senator 001” and “Governor 001” and “Hassani na Hassani”.

The two rarely contradict each other in public and are known to wield immense influence within CORD and carry favour with party principals Raila, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula.

The two are strong proponents of Okoa Kenya referendum campaign spearheaded by CORD.

They have also been backing calls for increased allocation of funds to Mombasa County, arguing that as the second biggest contributor to the exchequer after Nairobi County, the allocation it gets is meagre.

At the same time, the two leaders have come out strongly in public to demand for the amendment of the Kenya Ports Authority Act to allow the county government control the Port of Mombasa or at least, a share in the port’s revenue.

At one time, Governor Joho threatened to go to the Supreme Court to seize control of Kenya Ferry Services.

The two have also seized every forum to castigate CORD rebels seen to be slipping to the Jubilee side. They say those associating with Jubilee were out of touch with the electorate and therefore risked sinking into political oblivion.

“I see politicians in this county who run to every meeting attended by the President and his deputy to clap for the two. If you think you are popular, why not quit CORD in peace and try seeking a fresh mandate on another party’s ticket and see how things will play out?,” said Joho recently.

The two have in the past engaged in bitter wars with officials of the national government, including County Commissioner Nelson Marwa. They accuse national government officials of undermining county leaders.

“Wahenga walisema mwenye nguvu mpishe, wahenga wa sasa Hassan Joho na Hassan Omar wasema mwenye nguvu akija, steady naye (The wise men advised that let the strong have his way, but modern day wise men like Senator Omar and myself believe in putting up a fight),” said Joho during one of the strongest public harangue directed at President Uhuru Kenyatta, Marwa and CORD rebels in July.

Jubilee allies

“We have democracy and our own governments in counties. Why then should an MP or a governor associate with Jubilee in order to foster development yet you (as MPs) have access to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and billions in allocations?,” posed Omar in one of his scathing attacks against CORD rebels. In a region that voted overwhelmingly for CORD, the senator and the governor have cast themselves as Opposition diehards and fearless defenders of the Coast ready to duel with Jubilee sympathisers.  CORD rebels within and outside the county have accused Joho of high handedness and meddling in affairs of other counties.

“Days are gone when politicians from Mombasa controlled the region’s politics. Let them not think they will continue to disrespect the Mijikenda or dictate anything to us,” said Mung’aro last month.

The Mung’aro-led team comprising Idi (Kilifi South), Peter Shehe (Ganze), Dan Kazungu (Malindi) and Jumwa accuse Joho and Omar of arrogating themselves powers as ‘the region’s kingmakers or kingpins, claims the senator denies.

“Joho should know that we will not allow him to dictate to other counties how they should conduct their politics. The Coast region is bigger than Mombasa and we’re opposed to the referendum because we believe it will not benefit our people,” Kazungu said recently.

Veteran politician Chibule Wa Tsuma said the battle lines between the Mung’ro-led group and Joho camp were drawn the day Mung’aro was removed from his position as CORD’s Minority Whip in Parliament. Tsuma downplayed claims that Joho is undermining other Coast leaders but observed that the governor and Omar feel a sense of entitlement for being very close to Raila.

“He (governor Joho) has economic muscle and so many politicians in the region owe their political careers to him. He therefore feels the MPs owe him support in his quest for regional ‘kingship’,” said Tsuma.

But Omar said Joho’s and his popularity have nothing to do with patronage adding that even the so-called rebels remain the governor’s friends at personal level.

In their speeches, Omar and Joho have sometimes been unrestrained in their criticism of the President, which has won them admirers and critics in equal measure.