Why Governor Hassan Joho’s US tour has left sour taste in Jubilee’s mouth

In a dramatic visit to America, Ali Hassan Joho – the irrepressible Mombasa governor – has called Jubilee’s bluff. In a public spectacle befitting the Prince of Mombasa, Mr Joho has left Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto with egg on their face. That’s because the country’s top leadership has been publicly bloviating against Mr Joho. The governor – himself no shrinking violet – has demonstrated his cojones by reprimanding Mr Kenyatta in public. In turn, the Jubilee duo has issued veiled threats against people they alleged were drug barons. Barely two weeks ago, Mr Joho publicly repudiated Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto’s allusions that he was a drug kingpin. As if to prove his innocence, Mr Joho was received with open arms by the US.

Let me state this for clarity. A visit to the US – in which one is received in the inner sanctum of the Empire – doesn’t prove one’s innocence. However, it’s a fair assumption that the US government wouldn’t receive a known drug dealer – especially at a time of heightened scrutiny of visitors to the US. One can only draw two conclusions from Mr Joho’s triumphant visit to the heart of Washington DC – either Mr Joho isn’t a drug dealer, or the Jubilee regime and the US have no evidence against him. In either case, Mr Joho must be adjudged innocent – which is an ironclad legal principle. No one is guilty until an independent and fair court establishes the contrary.