Joho the man to watch at the Coast

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s political star is rising. He stands out as the star politician and supremo among the six governors at the Coast.

There is no denying that Mr Joho is going to be a leading figure in Coast politics for many years to come.

Joho’s rise is bad news for Jubilee, who have embarked on a campaign to frustrate him economically and politically.

The astute governor is also on record as saying that he will vie for the presidency in 2022, an announcement that obviously will not go down well with his political foes.

First they started closing down his family-owned businesses, withdrew his security detail and then later tried to charge him with violence over the Malindi by-election in a naked attempt to clip his powers and influence in the Coast region, which is a CORD stronghold.

The Malindi by-election, in which ODM recaptured the seat, has no doubt enhanced his political clout and fortunes at the Coast. It’s clear to all that Joho, who is also the ODM deputy leader, is being harassed by the ruling Jubilee because of his ardent support for CORD.

But the Jubilee harassment has only won the pragmatic governor known for his straightforward style of doing things widespread popularity.