Rich Joho promises balance between luxury and public duty amid nomination controversy

Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary nominee Hassan Joho has responded to concerns about his display of wealth amid his nomination.

This followed concerns raised by Leader Majority Kimani Ichungwa'h, who questioned Joho's ability to manage his conduct if approved as the head of the ministry.

Ichungwa'h expressed concerns about how Joho's high-profile lifestyle, including flashy cars, expensive watches, and extravagant displays, would translate into his role in public office.

Joho, currently valued at Sh2.3 billion, has been the subject of scrutiny due to his opulent lifestyle showcased on social media platforms like TikTok, which many Kenyans can only dream about.

“I see you have valuables and jewellery, and I know you have been very active on TikTok. Can you assure Kenyans that these will not be part of the things they will see on TikTok because that is what annoys Kenyans?” Ichungwa’h posed.

In response, Joho said that while he appreciates certain factors of life, he will commit to balancing his indulgences with his public duties. He noted that he will not associate himself with opulence during working hours.

“I appreciate certain factors of life, and you must have a balance. When you are serving the people, you must make them feel comfortable. You must make them feel like you are one of them. So opulence, for me, is a no. When I’m working, I’m working. When I’m enjoying myself in my own home, that’s fine, but when I’m going to the Kenyan people, my dedication is to work for them,” he said.

The former Mombasa Governor, who has garnered attention for his luxury items, including a Richard Mille Felipe Massa Flyback Chronograph watch approximately valued at over Sh30 million, clarified that his interest in high-end watches has been longstanding.

“For the valuable items, we are talking about the watches, and I have been wearing them even before I became a Member of Parliament. I know how to balance, and I don’t have to wear it so that I can show off. What value will it give to anybody? So I enjoy wearing them. I was even debating in the morning whether to wear this watch or not,” he said.

However, expensive watches are not the only luxury items that have drawn criticism from Joho. In one instance, he was seen throwing jabs at a fitness trainer and ducking mock punches in an outdoor training session, which showcased a well-manicured lawn and expansive land in the background.

Following the training, Joho posted an image of a giraffe within his compound and shared a video of the giraffe walking towards him as he moved back. He also highlighted his lavish lifestyle by displaying a large swimming pool, his mansion, and several high-end vehicles, including a luxury German-made Mercedes Benz G-Waggon, a British-made Bentley Mulsanne, a Porsche Cayenne, a Ferrari, a BMW Nazca, and more.

This display of wealth has sparked criticism from Kenyans, who have raised concerns about politicians showcasing their affluence on social media while many citizens struggle with poverty and corruption allegations.

President William Ruto nominated Joho as part of a government of national unity agreement with ODM leader Raila Odinga. Joho, a prominent figure in ODM and one of Raila's two deputy party leaders has been known for his outspoken nature since he entered politics in 2004.

If confirmed, Joho has pledged a collaborative approach to tackling sector challenges.

He emphasised the need for leadership that prioritises listening and stakeholder engagement, as well as the importance of engaging with stakeholders to gather valuable information and data.

“We have to first of all find ways to generate confidence. If approved, I want to be a CS who listens. I've learned that if you take the time to listen to stakeholders, there is a lot of information and data that will enable you to make the right policies and decisions and create legal frameworks that are responsive to the demands of the moment and attractive to investment. I will listen, involve stakeholders, and do an audit of our human resources (HR) and technological capacities,” he said.

He also committed to redesigning training programs to better align with industry needs.

“This ministry is a wealth creation ministry. Today, the global demand for seafarers is almost 1.9 million. Kenya is contributing 0.2 per cent of this. We only have about 4,000 Kenyans getting into this by way of employment. We must redesign our training program to fit the demands of that opportunity. I will be running back to this after realigning the policies,” he said.