Ali Hassan Joho, the nominee for Cabinet Secretary of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, confronted long-standing questions about his academic qualifications. The former Mombasa Governor used the platform to detail his educational journey and rebut persistent doubts about his credentials.
Joho, addressing the committee chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, recounted his path from humble beginnings to his current pursuit of advanced studies at Harvard University. “I want to walk you through my educational journey and where I drew my inspiration,” Joho stated, emphasizing the challenges he faced early in life.
The nominee revealed that financial constraints forced him to take a year off between primary and secondary school. “Some of us come from very poor backgrounds,” Joho explained. “If you look at my CV, you will see I actually had to take a break for one year transiting from primary into secondary. Why did I do that? Because simply my parents couldn’t afford school fees.”
Joho openly acknowledged his initial academic struggles, admitting to poor performance in his secondary school exams. “Yes, I did not do well in my secondary school. I got a D minus, no doubt,” he stated frankly. However, he stressed his subsequent determination to improve his education. “Today as I sit here, I hold two degrees that are before you,” Joho declared. “I am on my pathway to attain a master’s degree from the most prestigious university in the world.”
The former governor’s educational qualifications have been a recurring topic of debate in Kenyan politics. Joho addressed this, stating, “It comes up every time there’s an opportunity for me to do something. It started when I was running for MP in 2007. Big conversation.”
Joho also alluded to attempts to discredit his achievements, claiming there were efforts to bribe officials to suspend his degree or delay his submissions during previous electoral campaigns. “Somebody once told me someone came to me and told me, ‘We’ve been told to suspend your degree, to purport we’re undertaking some investigation just to not allow me to meet the required timelines to submit my papers,'” he recounted.
The nominee emphasized that his credentials have withstood scrutiny from various government institutions. “There is no government institution, be it Higher Learning Commission, DCI, IEBC, even a judicial process, that has not investigated my credentials,” Joho asserted.
Responding to a question about advice for young Kenyans, Joho drew inspiration from the late Professor Ali Mazrui.
Joho used this example to encourage perseverance: “Do not ever imagine your hope dies by your previous struggles. We suffered, but what gives me pride is that we could turn that around.”
The vetting session also touched on Joho’s plans for his potential ministerial role. When asked about revitalizing the fishing industry in Lake Victoria, Joho promised to outline specific programs if appointed, recognizing the sector’s importance to local livelihoods.
This appearance before the committee marks a crucial step in Joho’s nomination process. If approved, he will take charge of a ministry overseeing key sectors of Kenya’s economy, including mining and maritime affairs.
