In Kenya’s political and social circles, Ex-Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho may be a well-known name, but his elder brother may be more difficult to recognize in a crowd.
The firstborn of a family of seven, he goes by the names Alpha or Abu Joho, but his real name is Said Abdalla Joho.
Abu is described as being modest and down to earth by those who know him. Abu would rarely, if ever, show up at public rallies, and even then, he would take a backseat and decline to be presented to the throng.
The entrepreneur is reportedly in control of the family businesses, has interests in shipping, import, and export, and is one of the major players in Mombasa’s hotel sector. He also reportedly oversees the family businesses.
He is reported to be fond of jogging on the roadside or doing press-ups at Nyali Beach, and on weekends, he would be clad in a simple t-shirt and a pair of jeans, driving on the affluent parts of Mombasa.
Abu, despite his cool demeanour, has had a number of run-ins and close shaves with the figures in authority.
Daily Nation reported in 2018 that three days before the 2017 polls, then Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa had had enough of Abu, who was reported to have been the centre of power whenever Joho was not in the county.
“Who is this person that you are calling Alpha? You are comparing human beings to God. The Almighty is the Alpha and Omega. People are operating as if they are demigods. We will not allow that,” he was quoted.
Marwa also accused him of driving around in tinted cars, which he alleged were changed not less than ten times each day, a matter that he stated was suspicious in itself.
It is claimed that Abu has been the chief financier of Joho’s extravagant political campaigns in the Coast region, ever since he ran for the Kisauni parliamentary seat all the way to his gubernatorial post.
