- So strong is the new friendship that on Saturday, April 26, Uhuru even broke protocol when he allowed Joho to speak from the presidential podium, reserved for visiting heads of state only.
- When Raila made peace with Uhuru through the handshake, Joho, ODM's deputy party leader, had to follow suit.
They were sworn enemies but three years down the line, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho are the best of friends.
The two could not see eye to eye and were bitter critics of each other but slowly, they found friendship - mutual political interests - and put the past behind them.
Fighting did not advance their interests.
Now Uhuru can demonstrate that he is not only friends with ODM leader Raila Odinga, but also has other powerful friends around the country
And through his friendship with the President, Joho is even overshadowing National Assembly Majority leader Adan Duale, some analysts say. The Coast kingpin is now positioning himself as leader of the Muslim voting bloc countrywide.
So strong is the new bromance that on Saturday, April 26, Uhuru even broke protocol when he allowed Joho to speak from the presidential podium, which is only used by the President and visiting heads of state.
State House handlers rushed to hand over a microphone to Joho but the President directed that he addresses the nation from the presidential podium.
Governors Amason Kingi (Kilifi) and Salim Mvurya (Kwale), who were also present at the State Hous, also were allowed to speak from the same sacrosanct podium.
Ordinarily, after the President addresses the nation, his podium is removed and no other Kenyan can use it.
The friendship was demonstrated further when ODM deputy party leader and the other two governors travelled back to the Coast in the military aircraft usually reserved for the President, Deputy President and high-profile generals.
Political analyst Danstan Omari described the relationship between the two as mutual as they both realised that fighting each other was hurting their interests.
“Joho’s businesses were being destroyed when he was fighting the President. The President also has a lot of business interests at the Coast region where Joho is a governor,” he explained.
There were reports that Joho’s family, soon after the governor and the President put aside their differences, was offered space to establish businesses near the Inland Container Depots in Nairobi and Naivasha.
The spaces were for the establishment of CFSs (Container Freight Stations) for cargo transported on the standard gauge railway.
Joho is a former critic of the SGR, claiming it would kill businesses at the Coast.
When they were enemies, Joho opposed plans to develop the Naivasha dry port in Nakuru county, arguing that it did not make economic sense.
On March 13, 2017, the President told Joho to stop following him around since he (Uhuru) is not his" wife".
“He should not play with us or else we will teach him a lesson,” he warned Joho.
The President was presiding over the launch of the Mtongwe Ferry Channel when he made some of the disparaging comments about Joho.
The Mombasa governor was even placed under virtual house arrest so he could not attend and disrupt the event.
GSU officers raided his Nyali home before setting up police checkpoints at every outlet to confine Joho to his residential area.
The governor, however, managed to get out.
Uhuru had a day earlier at a rally at the Tononoka Grounds accused him of underperformance, saying Mombasa is among the worst developed, despite having received over Sh40 billion from the national government.
Joho labelled Uhuru a tourist to the Coast region and claimed the President was keen to steal victory from him in the August 8, 2017, polls.
2022 PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS
He blasted President Kenyatta for allegedly launching projects at the Coast that were never funded by the Jubilee government.
Joho, a Raila ally, is also on record saying his friendship with Uhuru will lift his own 2022 political ambitions.
Joho said being close with Uhuru has increased his chances of winning the presidency.
Omari said Joho is pushing to have a direct link with the President without passing through ODM leader Raila.
“He is also keen on becoming the kingpin of the Muslim voting bloc. It is the largest voting bloc apart from Mt Kenya, and even in Central there are Muslims,” he explained.
He added that through the friendship with the President, Joho has overshadowed Duale as the kingpin of the Muslim vote.
“He is taking over the Muslim constituency and that will jolt a number of ODM leaders,” he added
Omari added that Uhuru wants Joho to be seen with him more often because it will create the impression that he has balanced his relationship with leaders from the various regions.
“The President does not want to be seen to be friends with Raila only but also with leaders from other regions,” he added.
Political analyst Joseph Mutua said the March 9, 2018, handshake between Uhuru and Raila killed the rivalry between the President and Joho.
“The handshake changed Joho’s earlier position. Joho is a close friend to Raila and since the ODM leader had made peace with the President, he had to follow suit,” he said.
Mutua added that Joho was calling the President names on behalf of Raila before the historic handshake.
“He (Joho) had to change position. Without the handshake, the rivalry between the President and Joho would probably still be there,” Mutua added.
He said after Joho changed tack, his business problems at the Coast slowly began to disappear.
“He killed two birds with one stone. His businesses are now thriving and his political ambitions rekindled," Mutua said. "That is why he is singing Uhuru's praises."