Coast politicians threaten to expose Joho’s source of wealth

Members of Parliament from Kilifi County, Gideon Mung’aro and Mustafa Iddi, have asked Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho to refrain from linking them to “commodities who were bought by the national government.”

Speaking in Kilifi North at a function where area MP Gideon Mung’aro was launching his bid for Kilifi governor in 2017, the legislator said he will marshal Coast region’s political machinery to ensure Joho does not get re-elected as Mombasa governor in next year’s general election.

“Our journey to send him packing has just begun. He won’t scare us with his money. Actually, we know the source of his wealth,” Gideon Mung’aro said.

Mung’aro alongside seven other leaders from the vast Coast region returned like for like remarks following Joho’s statement at 10th ODM anniversary on Saturday, September 10, that his (Joho) pockets are too heavy to be bought by a loaded politician in government.

“Joho said that coastal leaders cooperating with the government were issued with ‘envelopes’ (bribes). Recently, President Uhuru Kenyatta granted me KSh150 million to build a level four hospital in Mtwapa. We know the source of Joho’s wealth. If he won’t respect us, we will disclose to members of the public where he gets his wealth from,” said Kilifi South MP Mustafa Iddi.

“Who does not know that Joho was made an assistant minister of transport in the previous government? He majorly concentrated on close monitoring of Mombasa Port. In five years, he engaged in illegal trade and made the money that he is now bragging about,” added Iddi.

Former Garsen MP Danson Mungatana, who was present at Mung’aro’s function, said he will vie for a political seat in 2017 on Jubilee ticket, though he did not mention a particular post of interest.

“We should not gamble in the next general election. Joho should prepare to be floored in 2017 as we, leaders from Coast, want to speak in one voice. We will side with government and we are going there by choice. Our opposition is not founded on any agenda, therefore there’s nothing you will be benefit from them,” said Mr Mungatana.

Mung’aro will battle it out with incumbent Amason Kingi for Kilifi governor in 2017.

“Too expensive to be bought”

Governor Hassan Joho on Saturday, September 10, said God has blessed him so much that he is not willing to sell his freedom in exchange for loyalty to Jubilee government.

Uhuru and DP William Ruto received at least ten Coast leaders including Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya at Jubilee Party’s launch on Saturday.

“I live a comfortable life and I have everything I wished for growing up. I need nothing more,” said Joho.

The governor, known for his lavish lifestyle, said people should stop comparing him with politicians who defected from ODM after they were given small gifts and promised development.

Source of wealth

In a February, 2016 interview on Citizen Television’s Big Question, Governor Joho said he has been in the shipping business together with a sibling from an early age, long before he ventured into active politics in 2004, unsuccessfully contesting the Kisauni by-election, which he lost to Annania Mwaboza.

“I thank God we are a successful family in business. It is only unfortunate that, in Kenya, one is accused of engaging in dirty games whenever one succeeds, especially upon getting into active politics,” said Joho.

Joho, who declined to declare his net worth, dismissed as political propaganda claims that he engages in illicit drug trade, saying “those behind the dirty politics aimed at mudslinging my name will never succeed”.